Thousands attended her funeral in Lahore on Feb 13 – women, men, rich, poor, workers, lawyers, journalists, farmers, ambassadors, ministers. Those who couldn’t attend in person held prayers and vigils in different cities – Karachi, Hyderabad, Peshawar. More are planned in cities around Pakistan and the world. Below, a list of some memorial events planned that I know of, to give a flavor of what she means to us – us being Asma’s tribe, peacemongers who love and fight for peace, democracy, equal rights, human rights and freedom.
Thursday, 15 Feb.
NEW DELHI, INDIA, 6 pm at India Habitat Centre (Amphitheatre) – Remembering Asma Jahangir: A gathering of people whose lives she touched are organising a gathering to commemorate Asma’s indomitable spirit and life. Please join us for an evening of thoughts, poetry and songs. Known names from the peace movements, rights activists, policy makers, lawyers, journalists, etc are expected to participate in the programme. Adv. Indira Jaisingh, Kuldip Nayar, Kamla Bhasin, Dr. Syeda Hameed, Tapan K Bose, Miloon Kothari, Adv. Vrinda Grover, Jyoti Malhotra, Moonis Ijlal, Mariam Faruqi and many other prominent citizens are expected to share their journey with Asma. Friends of Asma RSVP. 9582452343 / 9868165471.
Friday, 16 Feb:
- LAHORE, 4 pm at the Lahore Press Club.
- HYDERABAD, India, 4 pm at Asmita Collective (Plot 283, Street 6, Teachers Colony, East Marredpally), Secunderabad – Asmita Collective with Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy. Please join us to pay tribute to Pakistani feminist and human rights advocate and defender Asma Jahangir who left us on 11 February 2018. Asma was the unwavering voice of peace in South Asia, and an unparalleled advocate of rights of minorities, women and all oppressed peoples. Importantly, she fought her battles in court and outside forcing due process under the most difficult and impossible conditions for the protection of the most marginalised groups – thus fighting hard to institutionalise human rights against state impunity. This remembrance will be followed by the scheduled talk by K. Sathyavathi on Bhumika: A Platform for Feminist Movement
Poster by Shabnam Hashmi for the Delhi tribute to Asma.
Saturday Feb 17, 2018
- HYDERABAD, India, 5-6 pm at Maheshwari Complex, Masab Tank, Hyderabad. Asma Jahangir of Pakistan was a leading Supreme Court Lawyer, renowned human rights activist, UN Rapporteur and a staunch votary of India-Pakistan peace. Her demise on 11 Feb 2018 due to cardiac arrest is an irreparable loss for South Asia. She had visited Hyderabad last in 2016 and greatly appreciated the city, its history, culture and hospitality of people. We request you to attend to pay your homage to this truly courageous and committed soul.
- BOSTON, USA, 4-6 pm @ Wiener Auditorium, Taubman Building, Harvard Kennedy School. Organised by Asma’s friends, activists and admirers. Speakers: Amartya Sen, Ayesha Jalal, Sara Suleri, Homi Bhabha and others. Co-sponsors: Harvard Lakshmi Mittal South Asia Institute, Harvard Kennedy School South Asia Engagement Forum, Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia, South Asia Center Boston, Harvard Pakistan Students Group, HKS Pakistan Caucus, Coalition for a Democratic India.
Sunday, 18 Feb
- CHANDIGARH, India, organised by the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation.
Monday, 19 Feb
- LAHORE: 4.30 pm at Avari Hotel, Reference for Asma Jahangir.
Wednesday, 21 Feb
- MUMBAI: PIPFPD tribute to Asma Jahangir and Syeda Hameed book launch ‘Born to be Hanged: Political Biography of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’.
Friday, 23 Feb
- DELHI, India: 4.00 pm, at Supreme Court of India – Remembering Asma Jahangir. Organised by Human Rights Defense International.
- PESHAWAR: 4.00 pm at Nishtar Hall Building, organised by Feminist Fridays and Women’s Action Forum Lahore Peshawar – “A symbol of consistent resistance”
Sunday 25 Feb.
- NAGPUR, India. Details to be announced.
- LONDON: 3 p.m. DLT Lecture Theatre, SOAS University of London, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG
- DHAKA:5.30 p.m. at Mukti Judhho Jadughar, with Hameeda and Kamal Hossain are out of Dhaka, thus having it on their return.