“Rehman Sahib is not in a good mood today,” Muhammad Ilyas, our manager at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) would tip us off once in a while. It was in his room, in the nongovernmental Commission’s burnt-clay-brick building, that IA Rehman – popularly called Rehman Sahib – would take a breather in, before going upstairs to his nondescript director’s room. Hence the inkling.

The iconic human rights defender and journalist served as HRCP’s director from 1990 to 2008, before being elected its secretary-general in 2008, a post he held till 2016. I had the honour of working under him for about four years, editing the HRCP’s flagship annual report and coordinating a couple of other projects. Besides the manager, it was joint director and Rehman Sahib’s friend, confidante and chief ally Husain Naqi, fondly called Naqi Sahib, who would tell us if something irked the boss. But only sparingly did we see Rehman Sahib burst with anger. If he ever gave any of us a piece of his mind one day, he would apologise the next. He had an almost fatherly feeling for his staff; especially if they were in harm’s way. He would give immense respect to his staff. He sought not to hurt people’s feelings. He was generous with appreciation. And that made them love and respect him.

Rehman Sahib liked people to be punctual and organised, as he was himself. Rehman Sahib and Naqi Sahib would have lunch together. After lunch, Rehman Sahib used to take a power nap in his chair in the presence of his books and documents. He gave his staff the freedom to act and make decisions themselves. He would seek a plan whenever there was some activity, gave his input only if he thought it necessary, and let it happen.

Rehman Sahib was easy to access, especially if it was about human rights or literature. He would come to the office even on Saturdays when it was formally closed. He used to say that a human rights office should never be shut for people who had been wronged. He was one with the peasants, the miners, the labourers, the journalists, the writers and the minorities.

Rehman Sahib exuded reasonableness. A fierce rights campaigner, a man of integrity and principle, he could disagree smilingly and genially. His long struggle against injustices and violation of human rights did not make him bitter or cynical. Despite his punishing routine; running the office, writing articles, attending conferences and seminars, he had a terrifyingly good memory, a razor-sharp wit, a great sense of humour and an informed sense of optimism. Not surprisingly, he passed away in a good mood, peacefully.

The writer is a journalist and commentator. He can be reached at wamust@hotmail.com