Page 13 - English Tehelka Issue 5 - March 15, 2018

column obituary

A rare courageous her outspokenness against the military

dictatorship, but she remained firmly
daughter of South Asia committed to the fight for the restora-
tion of democracy.
Equally vehemently, Asma fought
for getting the sacked Chief Justice of
Asma Jahangir, known for her indomitable spirit as a rights activist, Pakistan, Iftikhar Chaudhry, reinstated.
ASIAN DRAMA was among the very few strong leaders in the Indian subcontinent. A diminutive Asma could be seen on
the forefront of the lawyers’ move-
Syed Her demise is a loss not only to Pakistan but to the whole South Asia ment against the military dictatorship
headed by General Musharraf. It was,
NooruzzamaN therefore, not surprising that she was
t rarely happens in the case of In- had promised former Prime Minister put behind bars in 2007 during the
dia and Pakistan that an achiever Nawaz Sharif on the phone that she was Musharraf regime.
The columnist — former in any field is admired on both ready to fight the case, but she abruptly When she was freed from captivity
Deputy Editor of The sides of the Radcliffe Line. But on discontinued talking to a lawyer sitting she alleged in 2012 that Pakistan’s in-
Tribune, Chandigarh — February 11 the sudden death of with Nawaz Sharif at his Lahore house. telligence network was after her blood.
specialises in foreign I Asma Jahangir, undoubtedly the This was quite disturbing as she was The spy agencies are solely responsible
affairs. With a career bravest daughter of Pakistan, nay, of not known for behaving in this man- for the “missing persons” issue in Pa-
spanning 41 years, he South Asia, was mourned in both coun- ner. That is why Nawaz Sharif tried to kistan which she raised forcefully on
keeps close watch on tries by her numerous well-wishers and contact her at least 25 times but she did every occasion that came her way.
issues related to South admirers. If she had a huge number of not respond. Someone else picked up She was never bothered about who
Asian countries. The admirers in her own country, she had her mobile to inform Sharif that Asma, was happy or unhappy because of
views expressed are no fewer supporters in India for the 66, was no more. She had collapsed after either targeted by the government • Alive in hearts The sudden death of Asma her activities. Yet her admirers can be
personal causes dear to her. having a cardiac arrest. of the day or by extremists in their Jahangir was mourned in both India and found in every section of society not
She fiercely fought for the protection Soon her daughter Munizae Jahangir, unjustifiable zeal as fake defenders of Pakistan by her well-wishers and admirers only in Pakistan but all over South Asia.
of human rights and democratic values. a TV journalist, was on twitter with the their religious beliefs. The minorities If she was the most vocal critic of the
She firmly stood against the military es- sad message, “I am devastated @ loss in Pakistan, as anywhere in the world, military establishment for derailing
tablishment’s interference in an elected of my mother Asma Jahangir. We shall have been victimised on any pretext by the elected government, she was also
government’s affairs, misuse of intelli- B announcing date of funeral soon. the extremist fringe. opposed to judicial activism, which, she
gence agencies to terrorise critics of the We R waiting 4 our relatives 2 return 2 She was never afraid of defending believed, caused harm to the justice de-
ruling dispensation, extremists vic- Lahore.” the rights of such victims, sometimes livery system. That is why she criticised
timising members of minorities in the In her 40-year-long illustrious career even at the cost of jeopardising her the Pakistan Supreme Court on many
name of religion and use of extremism as the most admired human rights own life. That she could muster enough occasions. Asma found no justification
as an instrument of foreign policy. Her activist, she was the first woman in her courage to take on extremist elements for the apex court verdict disqualify-
popularity in India was also related to country to acquire the position of the was possible because of her undiluted Asma was never ing Nawaz Sharif to continue as Prime
her drive for forging friendly relations Pakistan Supreme Court Bar Associa- commitment to providing succour to Minister in the famous Panama Papers
between the two neighbours. Her disap- tion’s President. those being victimised only because afraid of defending case in July 2017.
pearance from the scene has weakened She co-founded the Pakistan Human they happened to belong to a different human rights, She won many prestigious awards
the Indo-Pak peace constituency on the Rights Commission in 1987 and servedas religion or sect. In her opinion, truth like the 2014 Right Livelihood Award,
other side of the border. its General Secretary till 1993 when must be defended at any cost. sometimes even the 2010 Freedom Award, the 2010
Asma died all of a sudden at a time she got the responsibility of heading it Asma had immeasurable love at the cost of Hilal-e-Imtiaz and the Sitara-e-Imtiaz
when nobody could think of her end which she did with distinction. In fact, for democratic values for which she in recognition of her work and could
being so near. No one knew that she was the commission owes its existence to challenged even the ruthless military jeopardising her have got more such honours, but
suffering from any heart-related ail- her single-minded devotion to setting dictators like General Zia-ul-Haq and own life. She had destiny had decided to close her file
ment. There are no reports about Asma up an organisation to carry on the drive General Pervez Musharraf. She re- forever. A person like her, who would
being a heart patient. Perhaps, she never for protecting human rights, particu- jected any kind of sops offered by these immeasurable love not hesitate in expressing her views
had a proper medical check-up of her larly of the minorities, forcefully and rulers and criticised their rule openly, against oppression of any kind, is now
heart. But this is not surprising in the systematically. not bothering about the consequences. for democratic difficult to find in Pakistan.
case of people like her who are so much Born in 1952 in Lahore, she acquired She championed the cause of values for which As poet Iqbal said, “Hazaaron saal
preoccupied with the causes dear to an LLB degree in 1978 from Punjab Uni- democracy during General Zia’s rule Nargis apni be-noori pe roti hai; bari
them that they have no time to take care versity and began practicing as a lawyer and enthusiastically took part in the she challenged mushkil se hota hai chaman mein deeda-
of their health. She had a massive heart with clearly being focused on human popular march taken out at that time even ruthless war paida”.
attack after agreeing to represent a min- rights. She had indomitable courage for the formation of an elected govern-
ister in a case of contempt of court. She of conviction to be on the side of those ment. She got imprisoned in 1983 for military dictators letters@tehelka.com

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