That Sunday afternoon, the whole nation mourned a great human rights lawyer. The world mourned a human rights champion. I mourned a different loss, one of a true and deep friendship spanning decades. I mourned the mischievous, fun-loving, lively Asma. The self-proclaimed burhiya (old woman) was no more. Asma Jahangir was no more.

Memories of our friendship flashed before my eyes, a friendship born on the lawns of Kinnaird College (KC), where I was intrigued by a young woman’s departure from all established norms. She would stand on KC’s benches, giving rousing speeches against the military government, her status cemented by climbing over the college gates to open them to demonstrators. The consequence was being held back a year, possibly fate’s way of destining us in the same college year.

Here I was, prim and proper. Then there was Asma, an irreverent, sharp-witted orator who would cut to the chase to get her point across, not phased by what society would say. To encourage people to say something, her mind worked overtime for unique ways to get into trouble and cause trouble for those in authority.

I saw her as the politician she later became in our second year of college. She persuaded me to accompany her to a new cinema house. After the movie, a group of boys started teasing us. Rather than run from the place, which I suggested, to my horror Asma confronted them from atop her battered old car, telling them that only nations that respect their women prosper. With her ability to connect with her audience, she was able to get the boys to cheer for her.

When I joined Punjab University Law College, imagine my amazement when one of the cases we studied was “Asma Jillani vs the State.” This struck a chord with me. “You’re already in the law books,” I argued. “Why not pursue law as a career?” Asma never made it to college, so I took college to her, sharing my learning with her.

Asma Jahangir became the conscience of Pakistan, the hero of our youth, a guardian of women — an image that was in stark contrast to her petite physical appearance.

​Gul Rukh Rehman

In 1981, we formed AGHS Law Associates — which stands for Asma, GulRukh, Hina and Shehla — as the first all-women law firm in the country. We were young, fired up, and wanted to make a difference in the lives of women.

Our rickety office was on Hall Road. It was visited by Fareeda Shaheed and Lala Rukh, who invited us as a firm to become members of the newly founded Lahore chapter of the Women Action Forum, which had already given structure and a platform to like-minded feminists of Karachi. Asma, due to her oratorical skills and fiery temperament, soon emerged as the poster child of the women’s movement.

Her canvas soon expanded. It was not long before she was providing free legal aid to battered wives, prisoners, victims of honor killings and the blasphemy law, minorities, and bonded and child laborers. In short, AGHS evolved into a firm that fought against all injustices, and Asma was recognized as a true advocate of the masses.

Cofounder of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, and a trustee of the International Crisis Group, Asma became a passionate torch-bearer for the peace process with India.

She was very vocal against illogical and intolerant arguments from the theocracy and military establishment. This resulted in her being physically attacked outside court and at home, incarcerated, and accused of being anti-Pakistan and anti-religion. Rather than deterring her, this only made her stronger. She became the conscience of Pakistan, the hero of our youth, a guardian of women — an image that was in stark contrast to her petite physical appearance.

Despite her commitment to these causes, she never lost her warmth. Nothing was too sacred to not have a humorous side. Nothing was too trivial to not be celebrated. She was always only a heartbeat away from friends who needed her, and even for those who hated her, she would respond to any call for help.

I am positive that she will inspire generations of women and men, many of whom have already taken up the mantle of her legacy. She will live on as a symbol of resistance against oppression of any and all kinds.

— Gul Rukh Rahman, an alumni of Punjab University Law College, is a recipient of the Manzoor Qadir Gold Medal for Legal Studies, and is a cofounder of AGHS Law Associates.