Lawyer who was outspoken critic of country’s Islamist extremism had a heart attack in Lahore
Asma Jahangir, one of Pakistan’s most prominent
human rights activists, has died of a heart attack aged 66.
She was rushed to hospital in Lahore on Saturday night and died the following day, said her daughter Muneeze Jahangir.
Jahangir was the chairwoman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and respected for her outspoken criticism of the country’s militant Islamist groups and record as an activist.
She was also the president of the supreme court bar association and had served as the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran since 2016.
Jahangir, a fierce defender of democracy who regularly raised concerns about Pakistan’s military and intelligence services, was included in Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential women.