Pak should probe plot to kill rights activist Asma Jahangir: Human Rights Watch

Islamabad, June 6 (ANI): Pakistan should launch an investigation into allegations that elements in the country's military and intelligence agencies have plotted to kill the prominent human rights activist Asma Jahangir, a human rights organization has said.

Ali Dayan Hasan, Pakistan director at Human Rights Watch stressed that a threat against Jahangir is a threat to all those in Pakistan who struggle for human rights and the rule of law.

"Pakistani authorities should urgently and thoroughly investigate the alleged plot against Asma Jahangir and hold all those responsible to account, regardless of position or rank," Hasan said.

Jahangir is globally recognized for her human rights work and is one of Pakistan's most respected rights activists.

She is credited with establishing the highly regarded independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and AGHS Legal Aid, the first free legal aid center in Pakistan.

Jahangir told Pakistani media on June 4 that she had discovered through a "security leak" brought to her attention by a "highly credible" source that an assassination attempt was being planned against her from "the highest levels of the security establishment."

In recent months, Jahangir has been at odds with the Pakistani military in a series of high profile stand-offs.

In November 2011, Husain Haqqani, Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, was forced by the Pakistani military to resign his position after allegations that he was responsible for a secret memo delivered to senior US military officials seeking support for Pakistani civilian control of national security policy.

Human Rights Watch pointed out that Jahangir has frequently been the target of harassment and threats over the course of her career.

Hasan said that 'governments that have lauded Jahangir's human rights advocacy both in Pakistan and internationally should be alarmed by the alleged plot to kill her and press for a prompt and persistent investigation.' (ANI)