KARACHI: The Habib Jalib award (2020) was given to distinguished human rights lawyer and activist, the late Asma Jahangir, at the Arts Council at a recent ceremony.

Journalist and poet Mahmood Shaam, who presided over the event, said the direction in which these days things are moving in our country and the dead end (bund gali) that faces 22 crore people, have made every city and village look for someone like Habib Jalib. The season of resistance is again at its peak. Although venues [for resistance] are being filled up with people, there’s no one to give them a direction.

Speeches are being made but no one listens to them attentively. If someone like Jalib had recited aisey dastur ko mai nahin manta, then all of them would’ve been all ears. Those who are crammed into buses [to come to venues] don’t care for the country.

Mr Shaam profusely thanked Saeed Pervaiz, brother of Habib Jalib who hosts the awards, for regularly organising such programmes. He said Pervaiz could be called in English ‘one man army’ but that would annoy Jalib’s spirit. He also mentioned and praised the book compiled by Pervaiz in which he has published material related to Jalib.

Mr Shaam argued that Jalib’s poetry could’ve been researched and made part of the curriculum by democratic governments but our “champions of democracy” have forgotten the late poet because they love power (kursi) not democracy.

Proposal to include Jalib’s poetry in school curriculum

Retired Justice Rasheed A. Razvi was the chief guest on the occasion. He said the attendees had gathered at the council to pay tribute to two great personalities of the country –– Habib Jalib and Asma Jahangir –– who were freedom fighters, who fought for the fundamental rights of the people. Their struggle was for others not for themselves.

He said if anyone wanted to know about the political history of our country then they should read Jalib, and they’ll get to know about the ups and downs that took place here.

Asma Jahangir, Justice Razvi said, began her struggle from 1971 when she was in college. After Yahya Khan’s martial law came to an end, a civil martial law administrator arrived who continued with the detention orders of Yahya’s time. In such a situation no petitioner was coming forward. So Asma (who was Asma Jilani back then) stepped up.

Her second contribution, he said, was the establishing of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP). Her third contribution was the fact that no matter what institution she dealt with, she wanted that institution to work within the limits defined by the Constitution.

Social activist Anis Haroon accepted the award on behalf of Asma Jahangir’s daughter. In her speech Ms Haroon said Habib Jalib and Asma Jahangir are a symbol of democracy and human rights. She said the late human rights activist was her close friend as well and no day passes by when she doesn’t remember her.

Researcher and poet Aqeel Abbas Jafri read a paper on Asma Jahangir. He said she was born on Jan 27, 1952. She studied at Kinnaird College and did her LLB from Punjab University. She was the first woman president of the Supreme Court Bar Association. She was always at the forefront in the struggle for democracy. She was put behind bars during Ziaul Haq’s rule and was also one of the leaders in the lawyers’ movement against General Musharraf. Ms Jahangir was the founding member of the HRCP and became its chairperson in 1993.

Social activist Karamat Ali suggested to the Sindh government to include Jalib’s poetry in the school curriculum.

Dr Fatema Hassan said Jalib was recognised for his courage to say ‘no’ (inkaar se pehchana). His poem ‘Dastur’ penned against the constitution made by Gen Ayub gave him popularity among the masses. But his wasn’t the first voice to do that. The then law minister Justice Ibrahim had opposed it too.

Manzoor Razi recited one of Jalib’s poems.

The programme was conducted by Saeed Pervaiz.

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2020