LAHORE:Areferenceinmemoriam for human rights activist and lawyer Asma Jahangir was held at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on her first death anniversary on Monday where her friends and supporters shared their memories of her.

Veteran human rights activist I.A.

Rehman started the event with his speech. Remembering Asma, he said she was born in an atmosphere of rebellion and later herself became a fighter against human rights violations and any kind of unfairness and injustice.

`I remember that at a convention Ardeshir Cowasjee was distributing some anti-Bhutto pamphlets and although Asma also disagreed with Bhutto on several points, she stopped Cowasjee from his activity, saying the event was about human rights and there was no room for politicising it.

She was also disappointed when Cowasjee left,` said Mr Rehman.

He remembered how the HRCP was formed, saying it was Asma`s idea andhow she was active in not just its formation but also in running it.

`There was a small room at the Hall Road which became the first office of the HRCP.

`Asma never waited for anyone to do work. She was always the first one to start work, and despite all this, she was the most humble member around, he remembered, saying Asma remained the secretary general of the HRCP for six years and president for another six years.

Artist Nazish Ataullah also shared her memories of Asma, saying environment at her home was liberal which allowed her to grow with a broad mind and an acute sense of justice.

Ms Ataullah remembered the last evening she had spent with Asma on Feb 10, 2018 just a day before she passed away. She said she would never forget that evening.

`Asma always forgave everyone`s mistakes and despite being at the end of the worst of abuses, especially online, she always responded with a joke, which used to astonish me,` she said.

Veteran journalist Husain Nagi said Asma`s biggest achievement was not to fight the fight alone, like her father,and she would gather hundreds of people for a cause.

`She spoke against bonded labour, violence against women and children, clampdown on freedom of speech and expression, misuse of the blasphemy law, violation of human rights in Balochistan,` Mr Nagi added.

HRCPChairpersonDrMehdiHasansaid Asma was the woman who moved aside those banners on the Mall Road where a certain religious group had ordered a decree of death against her as well as the boxes where people would put in curses against her.

`Her imprint remains on the institution she co-founded and the numerous human rights workers shetrained,` he said.

Journalist Rashed Rehman said he knew about Asma before meeting her.

`I had heard of the 18-year-old daughter of Malik Ghulam Jilani who had undertaken his case in court. That was the first time the Supreme Court had called the military dictator Ayub Khan a usurper` He recounted many struggles Asma was involved in, from the formation of the AGHS, foundation of the Women Action Forum (WAF) and how she along with other women took to the street in protest against Gen Ziaul Haq in 1982.

`In the late 1980s, we began working on bonded labour and Asma was with me, in fact sometime later she won a case after which two laws were enacted; the Child Labour Abolition Act, and the Bonded Labour Abolition Act.

Neelum Hussain said Asma had won the case of Saima Waheed after which it was ruled that there need not of a Vali or guardian for a girl`s marriage.

That case proved Asma`s bravery along with a previous case of Salamat Masih, she added.

`There were death threats. JusticeAijaz Bhatti who ruled in favour of Salamat Masih was killed. Later on, a man who was seen in the Salamat Masih case was also seen in the Saima Waheed case and when searching a gun was found on him.

But absolutely nothing deterred Asma,` Neelum said.

PeterJacob alsospoke.

LGHS: `The legal community was like family to my mother and she felt the pain of her fellow colleagues and the sacrifices they made during the lawyers` movement,` said Asma`s lawyer daughter, Sulema Jahangir.

She was speaking at a memorial event hosted by the AGHS legal aid cell, along with the Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) and the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) on the occasion of Asma Jahangir`s first death anniversary.

Asma`s other daughter, journalist Munizae Jahangir said her mother`s absence had left a huge void in Pakistan and there were many who would miss her voice for justice and freedom.

Journalist Ahmed Rashid, Javeria Kabani Rizvi, LA. Rehman and LHC judge Ali Baqir Najfi also spoke.