Pakistan has lost one of its most respected psychiatrists and human rights defenders. Professor Syed Haroon Ahmed, a pioneer in mental health services and a vocal advocate for secularism, minority rights, and human dignity, passed away in Karachi on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
Dr. Haroon Ahmed’s Death Leaves a Void in Psychiatry and Human Rights Advocacy
Known for his decades-long commitment to psychiatry and public service, Dr. Haroon Ahmed’s death marks the end of an era. For nearly sixty years, he remained dedicated not only to the field of mental health in Pakistan, but also to social justice, human rights, and political awareness. His work laid the groundwork for how mental health services evolved across the country, especially in Karachi, where he was based most of his life.
Final Rites of Professor Haroon Ahmed
According to the family, Professor Haroon Ahmed’s funeral prayer will offered after Juma prayer on Friday, April 4, 2025, at Masjid Abu Bakr Siddiq, located at Bilawal Chorangi, next to Shell Petrol Pump, Block 2 Clifton, Karachi.
The burial of Professor Haroon Ahmed will take place in Korangi No. 1.5 Graveyard, Chakra Goth, near Korangi Creek, just across from Creek General Hospital.
Prayer Gathering for Professor Haroon Ahmed
A dua (prayer gathering) in memory of Professor Haroon Ahmed will held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM at F-2/B Block 4, Clifton, Karachi. Friends, colleagues, and admirers invited to pay their respects and honor his legacy.
Even though Dr. Haroon Ahmed is no longer with us, his legacy will continue through the institutions he helped shape, the countless lives he touched, and the courage he showed in advocating for justice. His tireless work in the field of psychiatry in Pakistan, and his role in shaping human rights movements, earned him a place in the hearts of many.
He survived by his wife, two sons, and a daughter, who carry forward the values he lived by.
