LAHORE: Ousted prime minister and his daughter Maryam visited late human rights lawyer and social activist Asma Jahangir’s residence on Monday to offer their condolences to the family.
They expressed their grief at the lawyer’s untimely demise on behalf of the ruling party.
During their visit, the PML-N leaders also reminisced about Asma’s dedication to humanity and her profession, bravado, and outspokenness.
Nawaz also paid tribute to Jahangir’s lifelong struggle for democracy and prayed for her soul while speaking to the media.
“She was not only a prominent lawyer, she was a kind-hearted human who cared for the poor and marginalised, she never left the poor in hard times. She always struggled for democracy and supremacy of law,” said Nawaz.
“May Allah raise her status [in the afterlife],” he prayed.
Maryam Nawaz stated Jahangir’s death was “a huge loss for democracy, human rights and all of humanity.”
“Asma Jahangir was a voice for the poor and marginalised sections of the society. Every human who has a heart should advance her cause, and become a voice for the [voiceless],” said Maryam while speaking to a local news channel.
“Speaking truth should not be labelled as criticism. There should be courage to speak the truth,” she observed.
Asma passed away on Sunday after suffering a cardiac arrest at the age of 66.
Some of the awards she received during her lifetime include the 2014 Right Livelihood Award, 2010 Freedom Award, Hilal-e-Imtiaz in 2010 and Sitara-e-Imtiaz, UNESCO/Bilbao Prize for the Promotion of a Culture of Human Rights in 2010 and Officier de la Légion d’honneur in 2014 – France’s highest award.
