ISLAMABAD: Senator Farhatullah Babar on Saturday asked civil society organisations to play their role in persuading the government to implement the Senate’s recommendations to address the missing persons issue.

Speaking at a memorial reference for the late human rights activist and lawyer Asma Jehangir, organized by the Awami Workers Party (AWP) at the National Press Club Islamabad, he said that the Senate recommendations include a draft legislation to make state agencies accountable.

The proposed legislation has been pending with the government for over a year and should be passed, he said.

Senator Babar said that the days of direct takeover seemed to be over and a new model of controlled democracy had emerged.

In this model, the person sitting on the wheel was not the actual driver and vital controls were operated invisibly from the rear seat, he said.

Paying tribute to Jahangir, the senator said she had fought traditions that militated against the weak and the oppressed and that was why men and women, Muslims and non-Muslims had all stood shoulder to shoulder to bid her farewell.

In defence of liberty and freedom, she fought dictators whether civilian or military, and whether bearded or without beards, he added.

“She fought for the independence of the judiciary but also openly criticised judgments that she thought were more political than judicial. Asma challenged the clergy on issues of blasphemy, the marriageable age for girls and a wali’s presence in solemnising marriage,” he added.

Speaking to the press, Senator Babar said most of the bloggers who had gone missing were those who pleaded for alternate theories of national security.

The state does not seem to tolerate new narratives gaining traction as it will undermine the pre-eminence of some elements, he said.

Former senator Afrasiab Khattak said that over the years, the centre of political discourse in Pakistan has shifted so far to the right that the left appears almost nonexistent.

However, the reality is that decades of repression against progressives and our internal divisions have led to our voice being diminished.

AWP leader Aasim Sajjad said that it only makes sense for a tribute to Asma Jahangir’s legacy be in action and not just words.

“To truly honour Asma, it is not enough to just remember her lifelong struggle in words, but we must commit to continuing her struggle in practice towards creating the democratic and progressive society that she fought for.

We must overcome whatever differences exist between us to work together and push back against the onslaught of neoliberalism,” he said.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan representative Nasreen Azhar highlighted that Jahangir was active on countless issues, from violence against women to enforced disappearances to violations of labour rights, and her work encompassed all regions of Pakistan.

“So many of us have been working separately in our own fields for the cause of democracy and social justice, however the time has come for all progressives to come together and demonstrate our combined strength,” she said.

A number of poets and musicians performed in honour of Jehangir, and a collection of videos was also screened on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2018