‘She Defined Courage’: HRCP Pays Tribute To Asma Jahangir
Umer Jamshaid Published February 13, 2021 | 11:45 AM
At a reference held at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) earlier today, rights activists gathered to pay tribute to HRCP’s co-founder and iconic human rights defender, Asma Jahangir
Lahore (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2021) At a reference held at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) earlier today, rights activists gathered to pay tribute to HRCP’s co-founder and iconic human rights defender, Asma Jahangir.
Veteran journalist and former secretary-general I. A. Rehman said that Ms Jahangir ‘defined courage.’ She did not shy away from the possible consequences of a principled action or stance, he added. When sections of civil society termed General Pervez Musharraf’s seemingly liberal military regime a ‘window of opportunity’ for human rights in 1999, recalled Mr Rehman, Ms Jahangir was quick to retort, ‘But there is no need to take a flying leap straight through that window.’
Labour rights activist Farooq Tariq recalled that Asma Jahangir was always ready to take part in demonstrations for workers’ rights at short notice and had played an instrumental role in helping mobilize the Anjuman-e-Mazareen Punjab in Okara against military-owned farms. Civil society activist Mohmmad Tahseen said that it was important to take Ms Jahangir’s vision forward rather than dwell on her loss.
Lawyer Alia Malik, who worked with Ms Jahangir for over 25 years at the AGHS Legal Aid Cell, said that she had always encouraged her younger associates to remain persistent: if the courts refused to listen to them, Ms Jahangir would say, then they should return with stronger evidence and ask on what basis the courts had refused to listen.
Former chairperson Dr Mehdi Hasan recalled that, when a young Christian accused of blasphemy was shot dead outside the Lahore High Court, his last words had been: ‘Tell Asma Jahangir what has happened.’ Indeed, her name was synonymous with the human rights she spent her life defending.
The Asma Jahangir Memorial Lecture, instituted by HRCP last year, will be held on 16 February 2021 in Islamabad. This year’s lecture will be given by Senator Raza Rabbani, who will speak on freedom of association and student activism.
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