February 10, 2025
Staff Report
LAHORE
The air crackled with defiance. February 12, 1983, Lahore. A day of reckoning, a city ablaze with the spirit of resistance.
They came from every corner of Lahore, women united in their fury. Mall Road and Hall Road, symbols of the regime’s power, were theirs today, and they were there to challenge General Zia-ul-Haq’s martial law, and the laws that sought to make them second-class citizens. In particular the protest was against the discriminatory Law of Evidence (Qanoon-e-Shahadat) and the controversial Hudood Ordinances.
And in the valiant crowd, a young lawyer named Asma Jahangir stood ready. Her commitment to human rights was about to be forged in the fires of resistance.
Fellow protester and trade unionist Rubina Jamil, still vividly recalls Jahangir’s fearless spirit that day.
“She burned her dupatta as did the others – a powerful act of rebellion (by the women) against oppression by the Zia regime. When the police confronted her, she didn’t flinch.”
Jamil says that Asma Jahangir was no less than a ‘brilliant lawyer and rights activist’.
“Asma had a charismatic personality which helped her bring everyone – all the activists – together and fight for the rights of women,” she said, adding that the late human rights icon had the guts to look dictators in the eye which not everybody could do. An activist’s voice is their weapon. Asma Jahangir wielded hers with unwavering courage, challenging every wrong, every injustice,” Jamil added.
The watershed day in Pakistan’s political history was more than just a protest. It was a landmark day in the country’s history of feminism, and it was a transformative experience that would shape Jahangir’s future trajectory.
Noted women rights activist Khawar Mumtaz, who was also there with Asma Jahangir remembers how the rally crystallized Jahangir’s commitment.
“From that day onward, Asma emerged as a powerful voice for the voiceless. Her resolve against military dictatorship became unbreakable, and she dedicated her life to fighting for women’s rights and human rights.”
But apart from being a fierce activist, Khawar also remembers Asma Jahangir as a ‘sensitive person and a loyal friend’.
“She always had the vision to see the other people’s point of view.”
Jahangir was bold and courageous and there were no holds barred whenever she spoke on issues, she adds. “In addition, Asma Jahangir had the good fortune of advise from her seniors who gave her direction and help in growing into a human rights icon in Pakistan. Being a brilliant lawyer she took on landmark court cases like Salamat Masih and Samia Sarwar that strengthened her resolve in human rights.”
Another renowned human rights activist, Muhammad Tahseen, emphasises Jahangir’s pivotal role in the women’s rights movement.
“After the 1983 rally, Asma was at the forefront of every significant protest. She wasn’t just a participant; she was a leader who inspired countless others to stand up against injustice.”
Besides, Asma Jahangir spoke out against host of issues facing Pakistan. “She spoke on issues like Pakistan’s nuclear explosion, rights of minorities, and plight of families of missing persons in Balochistan, says Tahseen. “Asma never refused anybody who needed legal assistance.”
Noted civil society member Diep Syeda adds that Asma Jahangir had an uncanny ability to bring together female activists and organise protests and demonstrations in response to events. Syeda recalls that after the February protest in Lahore, Asma Jahangir was pivotal in organising a symbolic coffin protest outside Parliament in Islamabad.
“Hundreds of women participated in the demonstration in which we had placed mock coffins of women on the Constitution Avenue,” she recalls. Prior to the Aurat March processions, Asma Jahangir had a pivotal role in all big demonstrations held in the country for women rights, Syeda says.
From Protest to Remembrance: The Poignant Symmetry of Asma’s Life
The birth of Asma Jahangir’s is said to have been on February 12, 1983. And though her life ended on February 11, 2018, her legacy, inextricably linked to that date, will forever burn bright.
Asma Jahangir’s legacy stands as a testament to the power of individual courage. She was more than a human rights activist; she was a symbol of resistance against tyranny, a beacon of hope for the oppressed, and a relentless defender of personal freedom and the rule of law.
Jahangir’s life sends a powerful message to future generations: the fight for human rights is a fundamental responsibility of every individual. Her democratic and humane ideology continues to challenge oppressive systems and inspire those who believe in justice and equality.
Decades after that defining moment in Lahore, Asma Jahangir remains a towering figure in Pakistan’s human rights landscape. Her courage reminds us that one person, armed with conviction and determination, can challenge even the most entrenched systems of oppression.
Today as civil society and activists reflect on her life, they are reminded that wherever oppression tries to take root, the spirit of Asma Jahangir will always stand as a formidable barrier – a living testament to the power of principled resistance.