Asma Jahangir, renowned human rights lawyer passes away

Asma Jilani Jahangir (66), Pakistan’s renowned human rights lawyer, social activist and an outspoken critic of the country’s powerful military establishment, has passed away in Lahore on February 11, 2018. She was known for her outspoken nature and unrelenting pursuit for human rights. Asma was the first woman to serve as the President of Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan. She became a champion democracy activist and was subsequently imprisoned in 1983 for participating in the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy against the military rule of Pakistan’s longest-serving President Ziaul Haq. In 1986, she moved to Geneva and became the vice-chair of the Defence for Children International. She remained there until 1988 before moving back to Pakistan. In 1987, she co-founded the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and became its Secretary General until 1993 when she was elevated as commission’s chairperson. Asma also played an active role in the famous Lawyers’ Movement to restore Iftikhar Chaudhry as the chief justice of Pakistan.