Human rights icon Asma Jahangir dies

International Desk: Renowned lawyer and human rights activist Asma Jahangir passed away in Lahore on Sunday due to a cardiac arrest.

Jahangir, 66, was a human rights lawyer based in Pakistan and was Pakistan’s first woman to serve as the President of Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan.

Jahangir was known for her activism on women, minority and human rights issues. She was also the United Nations Rapporteur for Human Rights.

Jahangir served on various national and international bodies as an expert on law and legal affairs.

Jahangir became a democracy activist and was imprisoned in 1983 for participating in the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy against the military regime of General Ziaul Haq.

In 1986, she moved to Geneva, and became the vice-chair of the Defence for Children International and served in the position till 1988 when she moved back to Pakistan. In 1987 she co-founded the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

In 2007, she was put under house arrest after the imposition of martial law following the lawyers’ movement.

She co-chaired the South Asia Forum for Human Rights and was the vice president of International Federation for Human Rights.

Jahangir has received several awards including the 2014 Right Livelihood Award, 2010 Freedom Award, Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 2010 and Sitara-e-Imtiaz.

Source: Agencies


risingbd/Dhaka/Feb 11, 2018/AI