April 3, 2021
Staff Reporter
LAHORE
South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR) has praised late Kamran Arif’s consistent contribution towards the protection and promotion of human rights, democratic values and peace in the South Asian region.
In a statement, SAHR chairperson Dr Radhika Coomaraswamy said the regional network of human rights defenders mourns the untimely demise of prominent lawyer and human rights activist Kamran Arif and conveys its heartfelt condolences to his family, relatives and friends.
“His easy camaraderie, great sense of humour and helpfulness at all times will be greatly missed,” she said.
Kamran was a long-standing member of SAHR and served in the SAHR Bureau from 2010-2017. He served as the Vice-Chair of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). He practised law in Pakistan both at the trial and appellate levels for 19 years.
In addition, he worked with civil society organisations in Pakistan, with SAHR and other South Asian organisations as well as international organisations in investigating human rights complaints, reporting on rights violations and providing training for capacity-building of activists and lawyers.
“SAHR greatly appreciates the understated and consistent contribution he made towards the protection and promotion of human rights, democratic values and peace in the South Asian region and the immense support he conveyed to advance the rights of marginalised groups, including children, women, religious and ethnic minorities, and his efforts towards criminal justice reform,” Dr Radhika Coomaraswamy said.
SAHR shall indeed miss his commitment towards justice, peace and human rights in Pakistan as well as South Asia, she concluded.