Veteran Human Rights activist, lawyer Asma Jahangir passes away in Lahore

LAHORE: Veteran Human Rights activist and lawyer Asma Jahangir passed away on Sunday after suffering a cardiac arrest at age of 66, ARY News reported.

According to initial reports, Jahangir was shifted to a hospital after she complained of chest pain where she breathed her last.

The last rites’ details have not been made public yet as Jahangir’s children are out of the country.

The iconic lawyer had served as the head of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA). She was the first woman to serve as head of the SCBA.

Jahangir was born in Lahore on January 27, 1952. She played a vital role in lawyers’ movement for the restoration of judiciary.

She was among the rare personalities participated in the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) during Ziaul Haq’s dictatorial regime and sent to Jail for her activism in 1983.

She had always been a very vocal critic of the human rights violations in the country, besides widely popular for taking up court cases of marginalized segments of the society.

Moreover, she was also put under house-arrest in 2007 for actively participating in the Lawyers’ Movement during Musharraf’s regime.

She penned two books, namely “the Hudood Ordinance: A Divine Sanction?”  and “Children of a Lesser God: Child Prisoners of Pakistan”

Nationwide condolences

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan offered his condolences on the death of Jahangir, admiring her endeavours for rule of the law on the official PTI’s Twitter account.

چیئرمین تحریک انصاف کا عاصمہ جہانگیر کے انتقال پر گہرے رنج کا اظہار

پاکستان میں جمہوریت کے استحکام اور قانون کی حکمرانی کیلئے انکی کاوشوں کا اعتراف
–@ImranKhanPTI

— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 11, 2018

Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz expressed similar sentiments on her Twitter account. “Lost a great soldier,” she tweeted.

Democracy, human rights and resistance against oppression lost a great soldier- Asma Jehangir. It’s everyone’s loss. What a sad day!

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) February 11, 2018

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a tweet, said the news of sudden demise of noted lawyer and human rights activist has saddened him. “Pakistan has lost a passionate champion of human rights and a staunch supporter of democracy. May her soul rest in peace!” he tweeted.

إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ

Deeply saddened by the news of sudden demise of renowned lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir sahiba. Pakistan has lost a passionate champion of human rights and a staunch supporter of democracy. May her soul rest in peace!

— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) February 11, 2018

Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed shocked on sudden demise of Asma Jahangir and said that the entire party is in grief over the death.

عاصمہ جہانگیر کے انتقال پر پیپلز پارٹی سوگ میں ہے: بلاول بھٹو

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) February 11, 2018

“My dearest friend and leader Asma Jehangir has passed away. We are in a state of shock and grief. This void will not be easily filled. Her courage to speak truth to power was unprecedented and exemplary. Asma! Rest in Power!” tweeted PCB chairman Najam Sethi.

My dearest friend and leader Asma Jehangir has passed away. We are in a state of shock and grief. This void will not be easily filled. Her courage to speak truth to power was unprecedented and exemplary. Asma! Rest in Power!

— Najam Sethi (@najamsethi) February 11, 2018