Hyderabad: Advocate Shahid Azmi remembered in Nampally

Nampally: Hyderabadis remembered the zealous advocate of Mumbai, Shahid Azmi, who was assassinated by unidentified men at his office ten years back. Speakers recalled how he helped acquit over a dozen men wrongly accused in terror cases. The young lawyer's struggle captivated Bollywood, on whose life a movie 'Shahid' was produced by Anurag Kashyap and directed by Hansal Mehta in 2013.

At a programme organised by Awam Praja Foundation in his memory on Tuesday evening at Media Plus Auditorium in Abids, human rights activists brought to light how Shahid defended dozens of poor persons falsely implicated in criminal cases and laid down his life, while defending some innocent persons charged on terror crimes on February 11, 2010.

Khalid Azmi, who is continuing the legacy of his brother recalled how his brother worked hard to defend innocents and initiated an important legal aid platform and also challenged harsh & unreasonable laws like TADA, POTA, MCOCA etc.

Mubashirudiin Khurram, senior journalist of Siasat Urdu daily who had spent time with Shahid before his death, said Shahid wanted to run a 'Social-Justice-Forum' to help all poor, innocent and backward people without charging any fees. He recalled how Shahid even helped advocates of other states by providing important legal advice.

Mahtab Alam, activist and Journalist based in Mumbai recalled that Shahid had strong zeal as well as competency in his profession, and it's amazing to find that youth were studying law inspired by Shahid Azmi.

Advocate Mahboob Ali Mohammed, President of Awam Praja Foundation, said he took up law mainly inspired by Shahid, who did great service to India in his 7 years of legal career and he urged everyone to become part of important social causes like social work, law, journalism and politics.