Tributes paid to Asma Jehangir

F.P. Report

Islamabad: Both in life and in death Asma Jehangir fought against traditions that militated against the weak, oppressed and dispossessed. That is why men and women, Muslims and Non-Muslims, rich and poor, kith and kin of the missing persons all were present at her funeral and spontaneously prayed for her and together. It was a tribute to the spirit of equality that she championed all her life This was stated by Senator Farhatullah Babar at a memorial reference for Asma Jehangir organized by the sustainable development policy institute (SDPI) in Islamabad today.

In defence of liberty she stood up against dictators whether civilian or military, the tyrants and the brigands whether bearded or without beard. Breaking the myth she would stand up to judges and challenge faulty judgments. She detested military dictators and was never persuaded to forgive them because of their claims to benevolence or liberalism,, he said. She was a symbol of resistance against state oppression both literally and symbolically. Her name is literally engraved in law books and journals in the Asma Jillani case- the first when a military dictator was declared a usurper, he said.

The true greatness of Asma is that she radiated inspiration and illumined the path. Because of it the scattered saplings are fated to grow tall and strong. This indeed is the hope and promise of Pakistan, he said. She did not seek applause but applause naturally came her way. Asma jehangir’s words gave a healing touch to the marginalized and dispossessed. It also hurt the powerful whether among the politicians or the military or the clergy.

He said that Asma Jehangir fight in and out of courts for tracing missing persons will always be remembered.It is said that all applause dies down, all flowers wither away and all trophies gather dust. But the flower that Asma was will never wither away, the applause she was will never die down and the trophy she was will never gather dust, Farhatullah Babar said.Sartaj Aziz, Afrasiab Khattak, Kishwar Naheed, Asma Shirazi, Abid Sulehri and Basharat Qadir also spoke on the occasion.