News Desk
The Asma Jahangir Conference, centered on the theme ‘People’s Safeguarding Civil Rights in South Asia,’ convened thirteen sessions, attracting a diverse array of participants including human rights activists, lawyers, lawmakers, Leaders from religious minorities, transgender activists, students, civil society representatives, politicians, and foreign delegates. The conference was hosted by AGHS Legal Aid Cell in collaboration with the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan and the Pakistan Bar Council, the conference aimed to continue the legacy of the late Asma Jahangir, a staunch advocate for democracy, justice, equality for women, and protection of minorities.
Over the course of two days, the conference featured 22 sessions with more than 80 speakers from around the world. Notably, it saw the participation of 140 female lawyers from underrepresented areas of Pakistan, as well as 140 prosecutors and ambassadors from over 12 countries. Discussions addressed the challenges faced by marginalized communities, including issues related to vigilante justice, politicization of blasphemy, radicalization in mainstream politics, and electoral reforms.
Father Khalid Mukhtar from Jaranwala shared his firsthand experience of a violent incident at St. John’s Church during a discussion on vigilante justice, emphasizing the need to expedite trials in such cases.
Farhat Haq criticized the politicization of blasphemy by hardline political groups, while Christian activist Lala Robin highlighted the lack of equality for religious minorities in mainstream politics in his talk.
Member of Provincial Assembly Dr. Saveera Prakash, who being a religious minority, won election on general seat from Buner, KP articulated her experience of facing accusations and exploitation of her minority identity as a female politician during her election campaign.
Christine Chung from OHCHR raised concerns about Pakistan’s human rights situation, which would be reviewed in Geneva, citing obligations under international law.
Former MPA from KP Samar Bilour and Transgender Activists Sobia Khan shared their experiences as female and transgender politicians, respectively, highlighting the challenges of participation in elections.
Fauzia Viqar addressed legislative constraints and judicial violence against women, highlighting disparities in women’s representation in the banking and law enforcement sectors. Mehmood Al Hasan from the FIA discussed challenges in addressing online hate speech and disinformation, while Nighat Dad questioned the rationale behind cybercrime laws without data protection legislation.
Frederick Rawski from Facebook addressed concerns about content moderation related to Israel and Palestine. The closing session, led by Munizae Jahangir, called for political consensus on a charter of fundamental rights to safeguard civil liberties.
Faroog Naek, chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council, emphasized the role of law as a shield protecting the rights of civilians. The conference concluded with a commitment to continue advocating for civil rights in South Asia.
In the concluding session titled “The Role of Political Leaders in Safeguarding Civil Rights,” Munizae Jahangir led the discussion, urging political parties to reach a consensus on a charter of fundamental rights. She emphasized the importance of this initiative in ensuring that the rights of citizens are upheld and not violated.