Asma Jahangir and Hina Jilani are front and centre of Pak democracy movement: CSM

Pakistani human rights activists Asma Jahangir and Hina Jilani have been identified as the front and centre of the ongoing democratic movement in their country by the Christian Science Monitor (CSM).

Washington, July 20 : Pakistani human rights activists Asma Jahangir and Hina Jilani have been identified as the "front and centre of the ongoing democratic movement in their country by the Christian Science Monitor (CSM).

According to the Daily Times, the CSM write-up on the two sisters says both our proving to be a major headache for President General Pervez Musharraf, especially through their assertions that government crackdowns - including secret arrests and allegations of torture, are adding fuel to the rising discontent with Musharraf.

"He's a ruthless bully who believes in his own lies," Asma Jahangir told the newspaper, adding, "It's nothing personal."

She said, "I feel very optimistic for the first time. It's a different Pakistan."

However, the CSM article says that not everybody admires the two sisters, with some dismissing them as being only good at news conferences and protests.

Muhammad Ali Saif, a lawyer representing the government in the Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhamamd Chaudhry reference case, says both sisters make a lot of noise, get fame and recognition, and then market themselves."

The newspaper report says that though Musharraf has been preaching "enlightened moderation" for the last eight years, his military-backed government has undermined the very institutions that could protect rights and curb extremist behaviour.

It says that Chaudhry's suspension on March 9 provided a tipping point, because it laid bare what Musharraf will do to stay in power.

According to Hina Jilani, Musharraf has exposed himself, and adds that the army has been at it a long time.

Asma Jahangir says that, when invited, she attends meetings of all political stripes, including those of the Islamic fundamentalist party Jamaat-e-Islami.

ANI