Karachi May 5: Glowing tributes were paid to Dr Haroon Ahmed, the country's eminent psychiatrist and physician, at a memorial reference organized by the SIUT (Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation) here on the weekend. Dr Haroon passed away last month after protracted illness. Dr Haroon was also the founding trustee of the SIUT.
The memorial reference was largely attended by people from all walks of life, which included members of the medical profession, politicians, members of parliament, and human rights activists.
Prominent among them were Senator Raza Rabbani former Chairman of the Senate, renowned journalist Husain Naqi, leading columnist Ghazi Salahuddin, Dr Syed Ali Wasif of Pakistan Psychiatric Society, Prof Anwar Naqvi of SIUT, Founder President and well-known surgeon Dr Adib Rizvi. Ms Anis Haroon the wife of the late psychiatrist also spoke.
While paying rich tributes to Dr Haroon, speakers encompassed the various aspects of his personality and described him as an exceptional human being who, apart from being a compassionate physician, was also a person who all his life strived for the well-being and betterment of the people, particularly those who are marginalized and deprived.
Speakers said Dr Haroon was a torchbearer in the struggle of students in the initial years of Pakistan by raising his voice for better education and basic rights of the students. Discussing various phases of his life, they said as a physician he was soft- spoken and compassionate, who healed his patients by going deep into the miseries of his patients.
Speakers said Dr Haroon left a rich legacy that may be a role model for the generations to come.