How will Asma Jahangir be remembered in Pakistan history?

[MenInG]

Different and rather contrasting views about here depending on what side of the debate you are on but how will she be remembered?

 

[Greenstorm]

Depends upon who writes history.

 

[Syed1]

Whether you agree or disagree with her you cannot doubt her patriotism for the country which I respect.

 

[King-Misbah]

Some will agree that she was a traitor and was morally corrupt. Others will say otherwise. It depends on the person.

 

[DW44]

Given who usually writes our history, not in very good terms I'm afraid and it would be a travesty. If ever there was a Pakistani since the days of the founding fathers that future generations need to know, it's her. I think the best way I've heard her described is as Pakistan's moral compass and I couldn't agree more. More than anyone in living memory, she is worthy of the title of the nation's conscience. Unfortunately, we don't like having a conscience and that's evident from the reaction to her passing, with large segments of the society positively gleeful and very vocal about it.

Many a eulogies have but one in particular has stuck with me. Made me shed a few manly tears and I don't think that has ever even happened at an actual family member's death. People still don't appreciate the gravity of this loss which is a real shame. If there's an ounce of justice, her name will be in our history books 200 years from now.

The silence at Gaddafi during Asma's funeral was a reminder of what losing a champion sounds like

The funeral was scheduled for 3pm. On a regular day, the Gaddafi Stadium is about a 12-minute drive away. We left at exactly 1:45pm. It was everyone’s last chance to see her. Obviously, the traffic would be terrible.

We got as close as we could to the stadium gates in our car, and then started making our way into the crowd on foot. The ambulance carrying her wasn’t too far away. It moved slowly, aware of the gravity of the woman it was driving.

Asma Jahangir passed away suddenly on Sunday, 11th of February. She had turned 66 about two weeks ago. Her daughter has confirmed it was a heart attack.

On Monday evening, rumours spread that Asma's funeral would be led by her sister and long-time activist Hina Jilani. That only women would shoulder her shroud.

Every woman I know held her head a little higher when they heard of this possibility, which only Asma could make seem plausible. Had she really done it, yet again?

I told this to my colleague on the way to the funeral. He responded, “It’s never going to happen.”

Gaddafi Stadium is used to noise from the cricket matches it hosts on occasion. But yesterday, it was quiet. Thousands walked, hushed. Perhaps we were hoping for the slightest noise that her death was a ruse, fake news, as baseless as all of the allegations against her.

Maybe we were quietening down to see if anyone would speak up to claim her space. Or maybe, it was what losing a champion sounds like.

We shuffled around the parameter of the stadium, craning our necks to see beyond the person immediately in front of us. I caught many a whisper – what’s going on? How much more do we have to walk? Where is she?

We didn’t know where we were going or where the walk would end. But we knew we were moving towards Asma. And for many, that’s all they really needed to know.

Drones hovered over our heads, and arms holding cell phones were held aloft, filming the crowd. Cameras and media crews occupied prime real estate around Asma's body.

Unlike most Pakistani public spaces, you could see as many women as men. You notice this a lot more if you are a woman. There was a ballooning in my chest, ready as I was to see Hina lead the prayer.

This didn’t happen. And to compound the disappointment, the men, used to occupying as much space as desired, sprawled themselves around the wooden cot. They naturally assumed we would just back away, like we always do.

But this was, after all, Asma's funeral.

A woman next to me asked the women around her to make space for a line. Then she raised her voice slightly to spread the instruction. Soon, she and three other women were shouting over the men, demanding more room.

More and more people began to shuffle in the space, stepping to their right, stepping to their left, moving forward, moving backwards. Asma’s daughter Munizae asked the men to cooperate.

Rows upon rows formed. Silence fell over us again. The Imam began his prayer.

I suddenly realised, this was the first time I had offered a prayer that was led by a male Imam. It did not feel out of place. It might have, had I been the only woman there. But this was Asma's funeral.

Men and women praying together, shoulder to shoulder, was Asma's last subversive act. It felt like an encore. This small rebellion has made some people angry. It wouldn’t be Asma if it didn’t.

And that has been a consistent pattern in her life. Some were annoyed by her, others were outraged, and there was no shortage of detractors.

They did not give her special treatment as a member of the 'fairer sex.' Her battles were those reserved for men. She was a credible threat. They did not go easy on her. They talked about her like they would talk about a man.

In the crowd, I noticed many women were sporting bright yellow scarves, including Tehmina Durrani. Upon closer inspection, there was Urdu text printed on them. I tapped a woman in front of me to ask what they represented.

She must have been about 60 years old. “It’s for members of the Women’s Action Forum,” she said. “Have you heard about it?”

I blinked at her. I didn’t think there was a girl alive in Pakistan who didn’t know about WAF and their great work. I wanted to be offended. But I realised, to live in a world where these hard-fought freedoms could be taken for granted, was its own kind of privilege. This is what Asma left behind.

Growing up, she was the only female lawyer I knew of. But in the sea of mourners, I was surrounded by female lawyers.

I was accompanied by Sarah Belal, a relentless anti-death penalty activist I have the privilege to work with. I spotted Nighat Dad, tireless in defending our digital rights.

Syeda Ghulam Fatima, who has risen from being a bonded labourer herself, and has been fearless in liberating modern-day brick slaves, stood right next to Asma's family.

Asma’s spirit was everywhere, just as it continues to be in every quiet act of rebellion for female lawyers in the courts. Whether it’s smoking a cigarette or raising your voice in the courtroom, it feels like it has been attempted before. You always hear them whisper – “Just like Asma Jahangir.”

So when the men carried her body, as tradition would have it, it didn’t hurt as much. She had done her job.

On our way out, I noticed a gardener transfer a sapling from a pot into the ground near the entrance of the stadium. When any great tree falls, the best we can do is to plant more.

 

[Pakistanian]

I used think she was kinda revolutionary but then I learned she was friends was Tarek Fatah and shared his views on Pakistan, that's when I lost respect for her.

 

[PakLFC]

I did not at all respect this lady. She used to mostly side with Pak's enemies and was a staunch enemy of the military. I won't say a prayer for someone like her.

 

[Waseem]

If you use specific lens to judge her then she was:

Traitor who played in the hands of enemies and was anti Islam and hated Pakistan military
or
Best thing happened to Pakistan since Muhammad Ali Jinnah, best human right activist, very balanced, bravest woman, patriotic etc etc


I think every country needs people like Asma Jahangir as they fight for people's rights going above usual patriotism and state narrative.

We all like what people like Barkha Dutt or Arundhati Roy say about Indian issues concerning Kashmir but hate it when Asma or others say the same about our internal issues. Similarly, Indians love to quote people like Asma but criticise their own Arundhati Roy. She was a brave woman who spoke what she believed was right and contrary to the propaganda, she did support Kashmir struggle even praising Burhan Wani.

She obviously had her flaws as well, i think at times she used stupid statements to sound more "DABANG" woman and her role in recent years in support of Sharifs (which is different to supporting democracy) wasn't the best. She even defended Nihal Hashmi's ridiculous attacks against judges and was lawyer of Talal Chauhdry who is foul mouthed idiot used by Sharifs to attack courts and opponents. She could've been lot more balanced asking Sharifs to respect the institutions which is also important for democracy not only politicians fighting to save their personal corruption.

Overall she was kind of woman every country needs and should be respected.

 

[junoon]

A retired Senior army officer, who is our family friend, met her by chance in Islamabad few years back and he narrated...

I ask her politely dear lady why you always highlight bad about Pakistan and drag army for no reason.
She replied tum (army) walay sab museebat ki jar ho, humara India se / Hindoun se koi masla nahien hum log aik hien hamara khoon aik hai tum log dono mulkoun ko ladwatay ho apnay fayday k liye....tum (army) se India army behtar hai.

I interrupted her and reminded her of Kashmir

She says tum logoun ne najayz qabzaa kiya howa hai app logoun ko Azad Kashmir Indian ko de kar yeh jagra khatam kar deyna chahiye....

The gentlemen said I left that place immediately fearing I may hit her

 

[Savak]

Didn't she favorably meet Bal Takkharay in India? No point speaking ill of the dead.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Didn't she favorably meet Bal Takkharay in India? No point speaking ill of the dead.

Meeting someone is not an endorsement of their political ideology.

 

[saadibaba]

Didn't she favorably meet Bal Takkharay in India? No point speaking ill of the dead.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Many ppl unaware of facts share this pic of <a href="https://twitter.com/Asma_Jahangir?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Asma_Jahangir</a> with Bal Thackeray. I also fell prey to propaganda about it some yrs ago. Truth is the meeting was part of her visit to India as UN's Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. Conclusions of her report Pic 3&4 <a href="https://t.co/kP0FlwW3KY">pic.twitter.com/kP0FlwW3KY</a></p>— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) <a href="https://twitter.com/MJibranNasir/status/963083064808296449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Savak]

Meeting someone is not an endorsement of their political ideology.

I beg to differ. A lot of famous people outside the US have refused to receive medals from the then US President George W Bush at the Whitehouse for the simple reason that doing so would be seen as an endorsement of his policies.

 

[Savak]

My only gripe with her was her extreme anti millitary stance. She never ever spoke against Pakistani politicians like Zardari, Nawaz Sharif even when they were looting and plundering the country with impunity. She even represented Hussain Haqqani in the memo gate scandal in the Supreme Court and we all have now seen the kind of individual Hussain Haqqani is.

 

[CricketCartoons]

I beg to differ. A lot of famous people outside the US have refused to receive medals from the then US President George W Bush at the Whitehouse for the simple reason that doing so would be seen as an endorsement of his policies.

Receiving an honour from someone is not the same as meeting someone. You even meet your enemies for dialog.

 

[DW44]

My only gripe with her was her extreme anti millitary stance. She never ever spoke against Pakistani politicians like Zardari, Nawaz Sharif even when they were looting and plundering the country with impunity. She even represented Hussain Haqqani in the memo gate scandal in the Supreme Court and we all have now seen the kind of individual Hussain Haqqani is.

One of her greatest contributions was holding up a mirror to the corrupt, amoral military that is not above killing its own citizens for criticising their illegal and corrupt activities. Given what she would have come across during work on missing persons cases, and knowing how our military operates, its a shame she was one of only a handful of prominent Pakistanis who held up a mirror to those crooks.

As for representing Hussain Haqqani, every chaanga manga politician who maligned her and called her names would ultimately go running to her when the going got tough and that really is a testament to her character. The same Nawaz Sharif who called her the most vile things went running to her too. Next people will say she was in bed with terrorists because she also challenged military court judgements. Fact is she was too principled for this country. Might have gotten a bit more respect if she'd focused less on her actual work and more on shouting "oye noora, sun lo, #thankyouraheelsharif" from the rooftops because that's what sells.

 

[MenInG]

Think religious establishment did not appreciate her either

 

[Syed1]

One of her greatest contributions was holding up a mirror to the corrupt, amoral military that is not above killing its own citizens for criticising their illegal and corrupt activities. Given what she would have come across during work on missing persons cases, and knowing how our military operates, its a shame she was one of only a handful of prominent Pakistanis who held up a mirror to those crooks.

As for representing Hussain Haqqani, every chaanga manga politician who maligned her and called her names would ultimately go running to her when the going got tough and that really is a testament to her character. The same Nawaz Sharif who called her the most vile things went running to her too. Next people will say she was in bed with terrorists because she also challenged military court judgements. Fact is she was too principled for this country. Might have gotten a bit more respect if she'd focused less on her actual work and more on shouting "oye noora, sun lo, #thankyouraheelsharif" from the rooftops because that's what sells.

That's not selling well enough, since the Noora continues to win elections.

 

[DW44]

It has started already. Dead and still getting accused of blasphemy. I was wondering when that accusation would be made considering plain old Indian agent accusations have gone out of fashion in recent years to be replaced with accusations of blasphemy. Bol TV truly has no morals.

 

[DW44]

That's not selling well enough, since the Noora continues to win elections.

Kam az kam marnay kay baad blasphemy accusations tau na lagti. It sells well enough that even if you're not getting votes, you have an Iron clad, indisputable certificate of patriotism.

 

[Kroll]

I can imagine it would not have been easy for her carry on her work against a backdrop of hostility, a lady of great character and strength.

 

[MenInG]

She had guts to take on the establishment. Almost incredible that she passed away due to natural causes.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Many remember Pakistani lawyer Asma Jahangir as “a giant” in the global human rights movement. Learn about her fearless contributions to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/humanrights?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#humanrights</a> & why she’s one of this year’s UN Human Rights Prize winners: <a href="https://t.co/1xI0gHFyNL">https://t.co/1xI0gHFyNL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StandUp4HumanRights?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StandUp4HumanRights</a> <a href="https://t.co/qAz4VvXwq7">pic.twitter.com/qAz4VvXwq7</a></p>— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNHumanRights/status/1075088409809571840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[PakLFC]

She was a traitor no doubt about it.

 

[Bewal Express]

She did some​ good things but her legacy is sullied by her dalliances with the corrupt Noora mafia and PPP.

 

[shaaik]

The fact that she decided to side with Nawaz and his cronies in later days of her life exposed her completely. Never liked her one bit.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

If you use specific lens to judge her then she was:

Traitor who played in the hands of enemies and was anti Islam and hated Pakistan military
or
Best thing happened to Pakistan since Muhammad Ali Jinnah, best human right activist, very balanced, bravest woman, patriotic etc etc


I think every country needs people like Asma Jahangir as they fight for people's rights going above usual patriotism and state narrative.

We all like what people like Barkha Dutt or Arundhati Roy say about Indian issues concerning Kashmir but hate it when Asma or others say the same about our internal issues. Similarly, Indians love to quote people like Asma but criticise their own Arundhati Roy. She was a brave woman who spoke what she believed was right and contrary to the propaganda, she did support Kashmir struggle even praising Burhan Wani.

She obviously had her flaws as well, i think at times she used stupid statements to sound more "DABANG" woman and her role in recent years in support of Sharifs (which is different to supporting democracy) wasn't the best. She even defended Nihal Hashmi's ridiculous attacks against judges and was lawyer of Talal Chauhdry who is foul mouthed idiot used by Sharifs to attack courts and opponents. She could've been lot more balanced asking Sharifs to respect the institutions which is also important for democracy not only politicians fighting to save their personal corruption.

Overall she was kind of woman every country needs and should be respected.

Very good summary.

 

[MenInG]

Her death anniversary today.

 

[Something]

This woman is a legend and I hope young girls look up to her in the future and try to become like her. She was an absolutely resilient woman with a will of steel who single-handedly stood up for human rights against people and organisations that would not think twice before killing her.

She always stood her ground for the betterment of the country and its people.

 

[King-Misbah]

This woman is a legend and I hope young girls look up to her in the future and try to become like her. She was an absolutely resilient woman with a will of steel who single-handedly stood up for human rights against people and organisations that would not think twice before killing her.

She always stood her ground for the betterment of the country and its people.

Oh yes and she represented the corrupt and killers too. She got favours of the elite too.

 

[Syed1]

This woman is a legend and I hope young girls look up to her in the future and try to become like her. She was an absolutely resilient woman with a will of steel who single-handedly stood up for human rights against people and organisations that would not think twice before killing her.

She always stood her ground for the betterment of the country and its people.

She was a fighter for human rights and is inspiration for all Pakistani girls but let's not label her as some angel.


She vociferously defended corrupt politicians like Nawaz Sharif till her last day, and it was not because she genuinely believed in their innocence but because ol' Nawazo got written off millions in loans that she and her husband took.


"Pakistan mein shareef siruf woh hai jisko mauqa nahi mila"

 

[gazza619]

I always think of her as a bitter anti Pakistan lady

I may be wrong and am happy to be corrected.

 

[shaaik]

Never liked this lady even for once and she was exposed badly by supporting and defending Nawazs Panama scandal.. Since she is dead now, may she rest in peace..