Former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association and leading human rights activist Asma Jahangir has made allegations of death threats to her by secret agencies. She has talked of plans for a “murderous attack” on her. It is not very clear who actually is making the threats or hatching the plan, but there can be no doubt about the perils that defenders of human rights have to face in fighting for their fellow citizens. The matter has been taken up both locally and internationally and the government says it is doing all that it can to ensure Asma’s safety. Rangers have been deployed outside her home and advice has also been sought by Asma from top security firms which operate internationally.
Asma Jahangir has also linked the threats to the recent Supreme Court Bar Association conference in which she had spoken about the Balochistan crisis. She had castigated the agencies for kill-and-dump operations in Balochistan and said that the problem had now travelled to Sindh. Asma Jahangir has demanded that the state act to protect her life and those of others at risk. The entire matter needs to be fully and professionally investigated to find out who is behind the threats. Activists tread a hazardous path as they advocate dignity and rights for all. They deserve and need protection. The duty of the elected government is to find a way to do away with dangerous shadows that stand over them. But its record of investigating the killing of journalists and rights activists is dismal to say the least. It cannot afford to mess up again.
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