ASMA JAHANGIR

Early day motion 943, tabled 20 February 2018 by Kelvin Hopkins (Independent). Signed by 21 members.

That this House mourns and pays its respects on the death of Asma Jahangir, the brave and remarkable Pakistani rights activist, staunch defender of the rule of law and fearless critic of military interference in politics; notes her reputation for speaking truth to power and defending the weak and marginalised, women and minorities against injustice, and her work for the rights of bonded labourers; further notes that she was the founding chair of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and the first female President of the Bar Association of the Pakistan Supreme Court, as well as serving as a UN rapporteur on human rights and extra-judicial killings; recalls that she was put under house arrest and later imprisoned during the regime of President Zia-ul-Haq for campaigning for women's rights and democracy, and again detained when she began a movement to restore democracy under the rule of President Musharraf; and sends condolences to her relatives and friends.

Signatures by party: Scottish National Party 8, Labour 6, Conservative 3, Independent 2, DUP 1, Liberal Democrat 1.