When there is oppression and dictatorship, by not speaking out, we lose our dignity.
— Asma Jahangir
I suppose anyone who calls a dictator a dictator is 'dangerous' and 'imbalanced.'
In 1986, Pakistan got the blasphemy law. So, while we had just two cases of blasphemy before that year, now we have thousands. It shows that one should be careful while bringing religion into legislation, because the law itself can become an instrument of persecution.
Divorce is the cheapest thing in Pakistan. About 30 cents. Cheaper than fish and chips. I've had clients married to very rich men for 40 years, then turned out on the road with nothing.
My father was jailed off and on for seven years.
I don't need a certificate of my patriotism from those in the establishment.
Terrorism does not disappear with revenge tactics but through making justice and equality before law a reality.
We want a country which is not isolated and where democracy rules.
There are some societies where women are not even allowed to drive a car, and that restriction is based in the name of religion and tradition. There are other countries where a woman can be punished if she does not cover her head.
We have the tendency of over-legislation regarding women.
I would simply not compromise on the fundamental rights of people.
Agencies must know who they are accountable to. If the agencies know who they are accountable to but we cannot say who they are accountable to, then really it is a very sad situation that is bound to be misused. It is bound to affect human rights.
Organized groups claiming roots in religious ideologies have unleashed an all-pervasive fear of mob violence in many parts of the country.
There have always been difficult situations for activists in Pakistan. In the 1960s, people fought for linguistic and ethnic rights in relation to the Bangladesh movement and the struggle of the people in the western Balochistan province.
Crime takes place in every country. But it becomes abuse when the state is unwilling and unable to protect the life and honour of its citizens.
I have protection. I have police protection. I have personal bodyguards. I have three sets of them. But believe me, this is really psychological for the family. If they want to get me, they can get me. And every time that I have been saved, it's been by coincidence.
I think I have lived enough in this country where I can say what I think is true and which is the voice of my conscience.
People send their kids to law school to uphold the rule of law - not to fight in the streets for justice and not to be beaten up.
Everything is a risk in Pakistan: If you defend women, it's a risk. If you defend non-Muslims it's a risk. If you discuss religion, it's a risk. But you can't really sit there like a vegetable in your own society. And I'm committed to that society... and I feel I need to turn around and speak as I should.
One example that has hurt me is that of Aung San Suu Kyi. I admire her a lot, but her unwillingness to protect the Rohingiya Muslims shows how intolerance has seeped into politics and the level at which it has seeped. It immobilises politicians.
A woman's whole life is spent making chicken curry while her husband works. Then, any time he likes, he can kick her out.
I don't care what America and Africa think; I am only concerned that the people of this country should be saved from its Army.
We eat, drink, and sleep religion, but we do not do good.
While speaking in the NA, one must maintain respect.
Attempts are being made to turn Pakistan into a security state. If they succeed they should better rename it 'ISIstan.'
If state protects the rights of people, they start respecting the state.
My family has equally suffered abductions, attacks and life threats, but I have continued my struggle for justice.
A really responsible court will never give an order it knows will not be implemented.
Women's rights was thought of as a Western concept. Now people do talk about women's rights - political parties talk about it, even religious parties talk about it.
Even when we talked about child labor, we were frowned upon. But then you know that you have to speak the truth irrespective of the repercussions.
Yes, I am very unhappy, extremely anguished at human rights violations against Kashmiris in India or against Rohingyas in Burma or, for that matter, Christians in Orissa; but obviously, I am going to be more concerned of violations taking place in my own house because I am closer to the people who I live with. I have more passion for them.
If your people don't really believe or respect you, if you don't have the moral authority to rule, then your goose is cooked.
I cannot bear to live where there is so much injustice and I cannot do something about it. What kind of a torturous life is that?
Every fair-minded person holding a position of authority must support the few who have stood up against the injustice being perpetrated in the name of blasphemy.
I'm not fearful for myself, because I've seen adversity, and I can see it again. But I feel very upset and anguished when I see images of young lawyers beaten up.
She is absolutely inspiring. Malala is a vindication of our struggle.
We never learnt the right lessons. We never went to the root of the problem. Once you start politicising religion, you play with fire and get burnt as well. Another lesson we did not learn is that Muslims are not homogenous.
I've been jailed once, put in police lock-up twice, and was under house arrest twice.
When the Bangladesh war happened, people in Pakistan who did not support it were called unpatriotic. My father was in the jail at that time, and a lot of those who knew my family used to call us children of a traitor.
Terrorism and religious extremism are huge challenges. They go hand in glove.
Good or bad people can be democratically elected, but it is always easy to fight for human rights under this system.
When General Musharraf took over, the Bar Association was among the first of some of the institutions that said they would not accept the Musharraf regime.
Every religion curbs women rights to some extent. Some countries acted against religions and put a ban on wearing hijab, which was also a violation of human rights.
I have noticed encouraging signs in the fight against religious intolerance, and I am impressed by the outstanding degree of human rights activism in India.
It is not easy for the courts to control the intelligence agencies. There has to be concerted and coordinated effort on part of the courts, the parliament, and the government.
There was a time that human rights was not even an issue in this country. Then prisoners' rights became an issue.
The interaction between human rights campaigners from Pakistan and India was a big taboo in the 1980s. When we started traveling to India to increase people-to-people contact between the two nations, we knew that we would face serious repercussions back home.
In bonded labour cases, judges would ask me why I had brought those people to the courts who stank. 'You are here precisely for them,' I would respond.
Fortunately, when Benazir Bhutto was prime minister, she banned public whipping of women - banned whipping of women, period, which is a marvelous thing she did.
I am certainly not a martyr kind of a person. I love my life. But if one has to, then there is nothing more nobler a cause that I can think of.
