ISLAMABAD: Members of parliament on the opening day of new sessions of the National Assembly and the Senate on Monday paid tribute to the services of brave human rights activist Asma Jahangir, terming her sudden death a “national loss”.

Both the houses unanimously passed resolutions expressing “profound grief and sorrow” over the sad demise of Ms Jahangir and highlighting her services for the cause of human rights, democracy, rule of law, constitutionalism and independence of judiciary.

The resolution in the Senate was read out by Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq and in the National Assembly by parliamentary leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Syed Naveed Qamar on behalf of all parties.

The National Assembly passed the resolution after a debate, while the Senate adopted it without any debate as Chairman Raza Rabbani announced that the house would hold a condolence reference in memory of Asma Jahangir today (Tuesday) and no other business would be taken up.

Sindh CM seeks state funeral for rights activist; Nawaz, Maryam visit home to condole demise

The Senate did not take up any regular agenda on Monday due to the death of Senator Saifullah Bangash of the PPP, who had died after a brief illness on Feb 1. The house passed separate resolutions to express grief over the death of Senator Bangash, PPP leader Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani and former senator Abdul Majeed Qazi.

Through the resolution, the National Assembly members recognised Ms Jahangir’s services “for rule of law, democracy and constitutionalism, besides her brave struggle against oppression and rights abuses”.

The NA “affirms that she had fiercely and fearlessly defended the rights of the voiceless, the poor, the downtrodden, the dispossessed and spoken up for prisoners, for victims of violence, for those facing discrimination on the basis of gender, or in the name of religion,” says the resolution.

“This House resolves that as representatives of the people of Pakistan we are committed to the highest standards for protecting and upholding fundamental rights of every citizen and in that we consider that as upholder of rights, her loss is a national loss and Pakistan mourns her passing away,” it concludes.

The Senate resolution says that Ms Jahangir “was unafraid to speak loudly against those attacking minority religions and women and was known for taking up court cases of victimised and marginalised sections of society”.

“Ms Asma Jahangir was a brave lady who not only motivated other females to stand up for their rights but also helped them break the shackles of society’s conservative minds,” it adds.

Demand for state funeral

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Monday asked the federal government to accord a state funeral to Asma Jahangir to honour her decades-long selfless services to the nation.

“With the passing [away] of human rights activist and lawyer Ms Asma Jahangir, Pakistan has lost a national treasure. I am writing to you to consider giving Ms Asma Jahangir a state funeral, honouring her decades of selfless services to the nation,” wrote Mr Shah in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

“In addition to this,” he added, “out of respect of Ms Jahangir, the Sindh government has announced a day of mourning. I would like [to seek your] permission to fly the national flag at half mast on 13 February, 2018, the day of her funeral, in addition to day of our mourning”.

According to sources, Mr Rabbani talked to PM Abbassi over phone and urged him to give a state funeral to Ms Jahangir.

People from all walks of life, including politicians, lawyers, intellectuals, writers, journalists and civil society members, continued visiting Ms Jahangir’s residence in Lahore to extend condolences and pay tributes to her untiring efforts towards supporting the hapless and taking firm stand on matter of principles.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, along with his daughter Maryam, visited Ms Jahangir’s residence and condoled with her husband Tahir Jahangir, sister Hina Jillani, daughter Munizae Jahangir and other family members. Senior lawyers and PML-N leaders were also present on the occasion.

Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf, former adviser to the prime minister Musadaq Malik, former foreign minister Khursheed Kasuri, ex-ambassador Syeda Abida Husain, Jamaat-i-Islami’s Liaquat Baloch and Farid Paracha, PPP’s Qamar Zaman Kaira and Chaudhry Manzoor, PML-N’s Saba Sadiq, and senior lawyers, writers and civil society members also visited Ms Jahangir’s residence and extended condolences to the family.

Published in Dawn, February 13th, 2018