Islamabad: Former federal Law Minister Iqbal Haider, one of Pakistan`s leading human rights campaigners, died Sunday in the southern port city of Karachi at the age of 67.
Haider had been suffering from lung disease and had been admitted to hospital some days ago.
His family said his funeral prayers would be offered at the Masjid-e-Tasrab Imambargah tomorrow.
A former leader of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, Haider served as Law Minister during late Benazir Bhutto’s second stint as premier.
He also served as the Attorney General.
Haider was born on January 14, 1945 and his family migrated to Pakistan from Agra in India.
After quitting the PPP in 2005, Haider devoted himself to working on human rights issues.
He served as co-chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, the country’s leading rights NGO, and also worked for better relations between India and Pakistan.
In a message, President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to Haider for his services to democracy and human rights.
In a separate message, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said Haider?s death was a loss for the entire nation.
PTI
