Asma Jahangir, a renowned human rights activist, lawyer and co-founder of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan passed away this Sunday in Lahore.
The 66-year-old mother of three, was diagnosed with a heart attack before her death.
Asma was known for her courage – one who bravely stood up against powerful people including politicians, businessmen, and dictators, throughout her career.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Prime Minister of Pakistan, said that her death was a great loss for the legal fraternity. He wasn’t the only one as many well-known personalities and citizens, paid their tributes to her.
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Politicians chimed in:
Asma Jehangir's death is a loss of a strong voice for the marginalised and oppressed. Despite our differences I always respected her for her fight for human rights and for standing up for her convictions.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) February 11, 2018
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
Shocked to hear @Asma_Jahangir passed away. Huge loss for us, for #Pakistan. She was courageous, fearless, invincible. In absolute disbelief. Please pray for her & her family.
— Bakhtawar B-Zardari (@BakhtawarBZ) February 11, 2018
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
What a loss! A great colleague Asma Jahangir passes away. Few days ago, we appeared together in the Supreme Court. This distinguished voice shall be remembered for long
— Babar Awan (@BabarAwanPK) February 11, 2018
Asma Jahangir and Hina Jilani's writings, work and brave fight against the Hudood Ordinances and the barbarity of General Zia ul Haq's legal legacy remains unparalleled in Pakistan to this day. Condolences to the Jahangir family and the many who were served in that good fight
— fatima bhutto 🇵🇸🇱🇧 (@fbhutto) February 11, 2018
Am requesting the #PrimeMinister #ShahidKhaqanAbbasi to consider giving Ms. #AsmaJehangir a state funeral & allowing the Sindh Government to fly the national flag at half mast out of respect for her matchless contributions & unwavering principles #StateFuneralForAsmaJehangir
— Murad Ali Shah (@MuradAliShahPPP) February 11, 2018
Even notable media personalities and journalists expressed their thoughts regarding her life and passing away:
Bravest, fearless, a true democrat Asma Jahangir has passed away… sad day… RIP
— Shahzeb Khanzada (@shazbkhanzdaGEO) February 11, 2018
My tribute to Asma Jahangir-Death of Asia’s Joan of Arc – The Indian Express https://t.co/2oW9CAhvi8
— Hamid Mir حامد میر (@HamidMirPAK) February 12, 2018
I still remembered how Asma Jehangir helped media workers time and again during Wage Award struggle. Once when Ch. Aitzaz Ahsan decline to contest the case, Asma come forward and won the case for media workers.
— Mazhar Abbas (@MazharAbbasGEO) February 11, 2018
A male friend once asked: why is #AsmaJahangir always so angry? What disturbed him perhaps was why she always spoke up and appeared utterly unafraid in this world dominated by masculinity’s apoplectic id. For me, this is what #AsmaJahangir was: she was brave enough to be angry.
— Mehreen Zahra-Malik (@mehreenzahra) February 11, 2018
Generally, when ppl pass away, one remembers the line "hum na hoan gay, koi hum sa ho ga." But it's difficult to say that abt Asma Jehangir. Un jaisay aur nahin hotay.
— Feisal H. Naqvi (@laalshah) 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
RIP #Asma Jehangir. Devastated by your loss. pic.twitter.com/O11bppILpx
— Azmi Shabana (@AzmiShabana) February 11, 2018
What a picture. #AsmaJehangir pic.twitter.com/BQ3IVy2uOT
— Mahwash Ajaz 🇵🇰 (@mahwashajaz_) February 11, 2018
Saddened by the news of sudden death of Ms Asma Jehangir,the renowned Human Rights activist from Pakistan.She was very vocal on the grave HR violations in #Kashmir &actively supported our just cause.We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and pray for the departed soul
— Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) February 11, 2018
It is Asma Jehangir who deserves the Medal of Democracy and State Funeral.
— Matiullah Jan (@Matiullahjan919) February 11, 2018
I shudder to think of Pakistan's future without Asma Jehangir. So vulnerable & unguarded.
A petite, 5 ft tall woman stood tall like a giant, staring down at the mightest & most powerful, fighting for the rights of the wretched &down trodden without a fear in the world. Who now?— Alizeh Iqbal Haider (@AlizehIHaider) February 11, 2018
Nobel Prize laureate and another female Pakistani activist, Malala Yousafzai expressed her grief as well.
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 Yousafzai (@Malala) February 11, 2018
Across the border, the tributes flowed in:
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
Some grieved and some continued their criticism even after her death:
https://twitter.com/timesn0w/status/962679213332615168
https://twitter.com/mehreen_sabtain/status/962695679628980224
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A burden removed. Pakistan feels little light and happy as one of the corrupt to core departs. The day is a salvation as the weight of evil gets lighter after a long time. I hope she pays for her sins.
Please elaborate
A dark soul leaves. She always spoke against interests of Pakistan while living in Pakistan.
Will you please elaborate on “corrupt to the core”
Kindly elaborate. Baseless allegations is forbidden as per Quran.
True dat agar ye India mein hoti toh is ko zinda jala dete fire mein militant indians, aur ab wahe militant indians is ko praise kar rahe hain haha munafqat at its peak. PP staff ne is terrorist and traitor ko acha bana ke present kia ab in ko qiyamat ke din hesaab daine pareyga INSHALLAH. ALLAH jab in ke rassi kenche ga tab pata chale ga.
+infinity. Sane people still exist in the comment section WOW!!!
Never have i felt so pleased at the death of someone but this time… ALHALH O LILLAH
Please share why you are happy? I am just surprised and want to learn more on this issue.
militant Benazir terrorist ke marne pe maine sweet kaye the ab lagta hai wapas sweet khane ka time agaya hai +1
I am deeply saddened to hear about the death of Asma Jahangir.
A brilliant human rights activist who dedicated her life to standing up for the rights of women and religious minorities in Pakistan and throughout the world.
A great loss.
Although we should never be happy on someone death but Pakistan is much better without her. she was an angry woman. Allah forgive her
As expected, jahil awam in comments section. Jo marney ke baad bhi kisi ko nnahin bakhstey aur marney mi khushian manatey .hain.
Lanat aisi ghatia soch pe jo aik azeem aurat pe bohtan lagatey hain.
میرا ریئکشن: آج ملحدین کی نانی مرگئی
I never liked her but to be happy on someone death is shameful. Kiase muslman hain is mulk ke.
firhon be mara us ke marne pe be afsos karna chiye kiyun? parhe likhe jahil don’t embarrass urself. Zalim marne ke baad be zalim he hota hai aur zalim ke marne pe afsos nai karte khushyan manate hain. Thanks ALLAH for this. obviously zindagi aur maut ALLAH ke haath mein hai. kal ko zardari marega toh ye parhe likhe jahil us ke marne pe be afsos karienge bloody idiot.
So asma Jahangir was like firon? Main parha lika jahil sahi tu hai he jahil. Get lost.
I normally don’t comment here anymore and left this site but due to this article I have to voice my opinion. In PAK it is normal that anyone who should be treated as a terrorist and traitor are shown as bold, brave, courageous blah blah. Shame on PP for publishing this article. She was a terrorist and should be treated as one. Waise qayamat ke nishane hai ache ko bura aur bure ko acha kaha jaye ga. Good would be shown as bad and bad would be shown as good. And this dash was bad so she is shown as good, as simple as that. Irony is almost all the twitter comments posted in the article here are those politicians who are u-turn expert and looted their own country and those type of people are praising her haha wat a joke. Yahan toh marne ke baat log jhooti tareefen shuru kar dete hain chahe koi rapist kiyon na mare. Munafqat at its peak.