Pakistan: Human rights activist Asma Jahangir passes away, country mourns

Asma Jahangir is survived  by a son and two daughters.

She was 66.

The family told DawnNews that she suffered from cardiac arrest and was shifted to a hospital, where she passed.

She was born on January 1952.

Asma was born in Pakistan's Lahore city.

She is widely known for playing a prominent role in the Lawyers' Movement and served as the trustee at the International Crisis Group. 

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.

Jahangir served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion from August 2004 to July 2010, including serving on the U.N. panel for inquiry into Sri Lankan human rights violations and on a fact-finding mission on Israeli settlements.

The nation has been left shocked by her death.

Daughter of former Pakistan CM Nawaz Sharif- Maryam Nawaz Sharif- said: " Democracy, human rights and resistance against oppression lost a great soldier- Asma Jehangir. It's everyone's loss. What a sad day!"

PTI leader Asad Umar said: "Sorry to hear about asma jahangir passing away. I disagreed with many of her political positions but respected the fact that she clearly stood up for what she believed in."

Zaheer-ud-Din Babar Awan, ex-Minister for Law (Pakistan), tweeted: "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 ."

Pakistani activist Muniba Mazari said: "Rest in Power! #AsmaJahangir."

Nobel prize winner Malala Yousafzai remarked: "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."

Image: Asma Jahangir Twitter page