Former chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, professor, leftist, journalist and well respected intellectual, Dr Mehdi Hasan passed away on Wednesday in Lahore after a prolonged illness. He was 84.

Dr Hasan was a beloved teacher, having taught in various institutes across Punjab, most recently at Beaconhouse University where he was the dean of the communications school. He was considered an authority on the country's media history and his book The Political History of Pakistan was widely accepted as an important text on the subject as well.

He was a graduate of Punjab University in media studies and received his PhD from the US as a Fulbright Scholar.

He was a journalist with Pakistan Press International between 1961 and 1967, a member of PFUJ and a regular columnist for various papers in English and Urdu.

He was a fierce advocate for press freedoms and spoke for the need of an independent press. He also called for the need for a code of ethics for the electronic media.

At a talk held at Gujrat university in 2015, Dr Hasan said: “Distortion of facts by a section of media is distorting our history,” adding that all the citizens of Pakistan have equal rights whatever religions they belonged to.

In his role at HRCP, Dr Hasan advocated for a pluralistic society and called for the protection of minorities and women at every forum.

A public intellectual at large, Dr Hasan's talks on YouTube have been widely watched and appreciated for his vast knowledge on a host of subjects, particularly history.

In this video below, for example, Dr Hasan explains how the Muslim world needs a Renaissance.

In a more recent interview for Public News in 2020, Dr Hasan talked about the impact of censorship in Pakistan and how far the country had veered from Jinnah's vision for the country.

Social media users took to Twitter to mourn his passing, with many saying Dr Hasan represented a generation of intellectuals which cannot be found today.

One user spoke of Dr Hasan's influence on his own politics.

Journalist Zebunnisa Burki also wrote of what an influence Dr Hasan was on her learning.

A family member shared images of a profile she wrote on Dr Hasan.

Dr Hasan is survived by his widow, two sons and grandchildren.