Senior lawyer and social activist Asma Jahangir has passed away due to cardiac arrest. She was 66.
Asma Jahangir was among the senior advocates in Pakistan and she co-founded Human Rights of Commission of Pakistan.
According to media reports, she was also suffering from cancer and remained under treatment for years. She was rushed to hospital after falling ill but passed away.
Since her demise, Jahangir’s supporters and former opponents have taken to social media in order to offer condolences.
Sad sad day for Pakistan.. we say goodbye to a great great artist and a fearless activist. They shall live on through their work, always. #QaziWajid #AsmaJahangir pic.twitter.com/RLWZzR7aK2
— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) February 11, 2018
2 important people left all of us today. RIP Asma Jehangir & Qazi Wajid. Beyshakk to Allah we belong & to him alone is our return.
— Hamza Ali Abbasi (@iamhamzaabbasi) February 11, 2018
Asma Jahangir , undoubtedly the bravest and the most resilient fighter for human rights who had the courage to face the wrath of the dictators and the fury of the fundamentalist Mulla has passed away . It is the loss of the whole Sub continent .
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) February 11, 2018
Prominent Lawyer and Human Rights Activist @Asma_Jahangir has passed away pic.twitter.com/p6YqE8syTz
— Mansoor Ali Khan (@_Mansoor_Ali) February 11, 2018
Heartbroken that we lost Asma Jahangir – a saviour of democracy and human rights.
I met her a week ago in Oxford. I cannot believe she is no more among us. The best tribute to her is to continue her fight for human rights and democracy. pic.twitter.com/Tf7VOYfvq5
— Malala (@Malala) February 11, 2018
Senior lawyer @Asma_Jahangir is no more …. She died due to cardiac arrest!
— Adeel Raja (@adeelraja) February 11, 2018
What a woman. What a democrat. We are indeed poorer without you. #AsmaJahangir
— Babar Manzoor Memon (@BabarMMemon) February 11, 2018
Deeply saddend to hear that Asma Jahangir left us today.She was truly a legend,an inspiration and a champion of humanity.She cannot be replaced.She fought till her last breath.She not only spoke but fought against every injustice in this country.#AsmaJahangirRIP pic.twitter.com/lFb8sz9HTa
— Adil Munawar khan🌀 (@AdilMunawarkhan) February 11, 2018
https://twitter.com/stringofyouth/status/962626343333658624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.dawn.com%2Fnews%2F1179443
She was born in Lahore in politically active family in 1952. She got early education from Convent of Jesus and Mary before completing Graduation from Kinnard College, Lahore. She got her LLB degree from University of Punjab in 1978.
Jahangir received France’s highest civilian award in 2014 and Sweden’s alternative to the Nobel Prize for her decades of rights work.
She remained Supreme Court Bar President from 2010 to 2012. She remained HRCP Chairman from 1987 to 2011.
For her entire adult life, Asma has been an advocate of gender equality and minority rights in a highly patriarchal society. She is also the Chairperson of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), and the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations on Freedom of Religion/Belief.
In a society where women have no bodily autonomy, no reproductive rights, and are used as a tool in dispute settlement mechanisms, Asma has been an advocate for gender equality. Historically she has influenced major social and political issues in Pakistan.
She has been targeted by extremists through fatwas, life threats, and propaganda. Her family has equally suffered in the form of abductions, home invasion and consistent life threats, but she has continued her struggle for justice. 1952 – 2018 Rest In Peace.
