Mehreen Javaid
Pakistans leading human rights activist and a lawyer Asma Jahangir, has clearly criticized military rule in Pakistan. It was not the army that gave us Pakistan, it was the people She said that Ayub Khans regime was considered a golden era for Pakistan but the literacy rate was only 6%. It was a golden era for only those who became richer and richer, Asma explained. Then came yayha khan. During his regime, East Pakistan was not even allowed to have Bengali as their national language. Talking about General Musharafs recent visit to India, Asma said that thirty-two lax rupees were spent to arrange for an air-conditioned tent for General Musharf. Asma said that there is a silent resistance against the army and people have adopted a strategy of non co-operation to militants.
Asma Jahangir was speaking at an evening arranged by Raheel Raza at the Ontario Heritage Center. Asma is a firm believer of democracy and sees it as a solution for human rights and economic problems. She said that democracy, human rights and economics go hand in hand. Democracy is the best way of government, it is just our system that needs to be fixed. She said that when a society allows impunity, there would be violations of human rights as we see in Pakistan.
She said that the ethnic and religious minorities in Pakistan face various difficulties. The 1986 law of Blasphemy is used against minorities and once a person is convicted of Blasphemy he or she can get life imprisonment or death penalty. She said that Ahmedis are constantly persecuted and Ahmedi students are beaten up. In one incidence the doctor who treated the student was also harassed. Similarly Christians are also harassed and subjected to extreme violence as seen in Shanti Nagar.
Asmas involvement in the human rights dates back to 1981 when she formed the first female law firm in Pakistan later opening a shelter for abused women Dastak. She also served as the chairperson of the human rights commission of Pakistan. Currently she is appointed as the special reporter on extra judicial arbitrary and summary executions. Asma is also the recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay award and the first millennium prize from UNICEF.
Asma said that as a human rights activist she has to face many problems. Her name has been removed from the voters list. She receives constant threats and was harassed on various occasions. During Zias regime, she was about to get death penalty but she got lucky as she was a lawyer herself.
Asma urged people living abroad to help by writing letters to the editors and by creating awareness among people. She said that people should place pressure on the government to take steps to ensure the safety of women, children and minorities. My duty is to them(Pakistani people) and not to you (Pakstanis aborad), Asma clarified when asked to work in Canada. She said that she does not intend to join politics as she is basically
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