Media Release: Pakistan
August 9, 2013
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and partners in the South Asia Media Solidarity Network (SAMSN) join colleagues in the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in expressing deep grief at the passing of I.H. Rashid, veteran leader of the country’s journalists and courageous campaigner for press freedom and journalists’ rights.
Rashid died in the city of Lahore on August 8 after a brief illness.
Rashid had served three terms as president of the PFUJ, an IFJ affiliate and Pakistan’s largest representative body of journalists, with its footprint in all provinces and regions of the country. He was jailed for one year in 1978 during the Zia-ul Haq military dictatorship for participating in the countrywide movement for press freedom.
PFUJ President Pervaiz Shaukat and Secretary-General Amin Yousaf have expressed their grief over Rashid’s passing.
Aside from his courageous leadership of the movement against military repression of the press, Rashid was also remembered for his active participation in the wage board process, to obtain a fair deal for Pakistan’s journalists.
Rashid began his career in journalism in 1951. He served as chief reporter for the Pakistan Times and later as bureau chief for Dawn. He continued writing for Dawn even after retirement.
The IFJ and SAMSN join the PFUJ in paying homage to Rashid’s lifelong commitment to democratic values and press freedom.
The IFJ represents more than 600,000 journalists in 131 countries
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