Funeral prayers for Asma Jahangir offered in Lahore

LAHORE: The funeral rites of leading human rights activist and lawyer Asma Jahangir were performed here on Tuesday.

A large number of people from all walks of life, including retired judges and lawyers as well as politicians and bureaucrats, attended the funeral held at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Dozens of women also lined up alongside men for the funeral prayers, led by Haider Farooq Maududi.

Asma Jahangir passed away on Sunday from a cardiac arrest at a local hospital in Lahore.

Her untimely demise saddened not only the entire nation, but rights activists around the globe, who termed her death a setback for the cause of advocating human rights.

Jahangir was known for her fight against dictatorships, oppressors, and belief in the rule of law and the norms of democratic polity as well as services to abused women and children.

Born in Lahore in 1952, Asma was educated in the city. In 1980, she was called to the Lahore High Court, and to the Supreme Court in 1982.

She was first arrested in 1983 for partaking in the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) against then military dictator General Ziaul Haq.

She was put under house arrest in 2007 by the military regime of retired Gen Pervez Musharraf for playing an instrumental role in the Movement for Independence of the Judiciary.

She co-founded the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in 1987 and remained its secretary for quite some time.

Owing to her struggle and dedication to public service, the Commission earned global recognition for raising voice for religious minorities, downtrodden women and children.