Reema Omer, International Legal Adviser for ICJ, South Asia

“The judiciary should be all inclusive because young female lawyers face a lot of harassment in the field – we need a complete overhaul in this sector. The system of judicial appointments need to be more inclusive towards women.”

I A Rehman, veteran human rights activist

“Over the years, Asma Jahangir became the voice and the conscience of the people of Pakistan... When Asma became silent, the nation became silent.”

Former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbassi

“The real issue of Pakistan is the leadership crisis in every sector, including politics and military.... Accountability of politicians is done at the polling stations.”

Kamla Bhasin, poet

“Feminism is the only ‘ism’ that has focused on patriarchy. No other ideology has done that.”

Siddharth Vardarajan, editor of

The Wire

“A section of the South Asian free media is itself turning against the idea of dissent. Readers and viewers themselves must come out and support free media so that it can exist.”

Published in Dawn, October 14th, 2018