Asma Jahangir

I am so proud of Pakistanis and specifically of our lawyers for speaking out and getting their heads bashed in for a better Pakistan. ”

I am certainly not a martyr kind of a person. I love my life. But if one has to, then there is nothing more nobler a cause that I can think of. ”

We never learnt the right lessons. We never went to the root of the problem. Once you start politicising religion, you play with fire and get burnt as well. Another lesson we did not learn is that Muslims are not homogenous. ”

Crime takes place in every country. But it becomes abuse when the state is unwilling and unable to protect the life and honour of its citizens. ”

I cannot bear to live where there is so much injustice and I cannot do something about it. What kind of a torturous life is that? ”

A woman's whole life is spent making chicken curry while her husband works. Then, any time he likes, he can kick her out. ”

Every fair-minded person holding a position of authority must support the few who have stood up against the injustice being perpetrated in the name of blasphemy. ”

Past experience has shown that the Islamists gain space when civilian authority weakens. ”

One example that has hurt me is that of Aung San Suu Kyi. I admire her a lot, but her unwillingness to protect the Rohingiya Muslims shows how intolerance has seeped into politics and the level at which it has seeped. It immobilises politicians. ”

If your people don't really believe or respect you, if you don't have the moral authority to rule, then your goose is cooked. ”