It seems that not a week goes by these days without news of yet another attack in Pakistan – and we’re not talking US drones hunting for Taliban, but Pakistanis killing Pakistanis.
“The West is only learning now, but extremism took over Pakistan in the early 80’s” says Asma Jahangir, one of Pakistan’s most prominent human rights activists. Never one to avoid controversy, she proclaims that the attacks of 9/11 in New York just highlighted the “sleepiness” of the Western intelligence and diplomatic communities to something that “every Pakistani on the street had been talking about for years.”
Asma Jahangir was in The Netherlands this week to collect yet another prize for her already extensive collection and talked to South Asia Wired about the religious divides that literally seems to be tearing Pakistan apart.
Ms Jahangir and her family are consistently threatened because she has a habit of stepping on some very important toes. In 2008, her daughters were assaulted, she herself has been jailed and has needed bodyguards for 15 years – but she insists it’s the state’s responsibility to protect her. She refuses to hire bodyguards for herself because she doesn’t want the possible death of her security detail on her conscience. On the question of whether all this intimidation hasn’t lead her to be afraid, she replies, “we don’t have the luxury of fear, we have to act.”
Listen to the full interview with Asma Jahangir.
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Mount Holyoke College Communications
on Jun 3rd, 2010 at 1:49 am
There has been trouble in Pakistan for years now as a military regime was required by the West to keep Pakistan within some degree of its sphere of influence. The assassination of Benizir Bhutto was more than a clear indication that Pakistan was then and still is suffering from severe divisions in its society. I find Mrs. Jahangir’s comments interesting, especially that fear is a luxury which at present cannot be afforded for want and need of action. However, it is saddening to hear of her refusing to hire her own bodyguards as their possible deaths may be on her conscience, choosing instead to unsuccessfully request state provided protection. Wouldn’t the possible deaths of state security guards also be a sacrifice to weigh on her mind? This also speaks of conflicting views and attitudes in Pakistani society.
on Jun 3rd, 2010 at 9:28 am
Ms Jahangir does have bodyguards provided by the state, and I can see her moral distinction though of course David you’re right in that if harm comes to them, it doesn’t matter who’s hiring them. I remember meeting Ms Jahangir years ago in Lahore with her giant rifle carrying Pathan behind her and we went out of her office onto the street together chatting for a bit and I saw the Pathan checking out all the cars who drove by - just standing with her on the street made me nervous. I can’t imagine people like her who have to live with that 24/7. But as she says, these days, everyone in Pakistan lives in a world where violence could erupt any moment.