20 Facts About Jalila Haider

Jalila Haider is a Pakistani human rights attorney and political activist from Quetta in Balochistan, Pakistan.

Jalila Haider is known to be the first woman lawyer from Quetta's Hazara minority, and an advocate for the rights of her persecuted community.

Jalila Haider is a member of the Awami Workers Party, leader of the Balochistan chapter of Women Democratic Front, and an activist in the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement.

Jalila Haider was named in BBC's 100 Women of 2019, and was chosen as an International Woman of Courage by the United States Department of State in March 2020.

Jalila Haider was born on December 10,1988, in Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan.

Jalila Haider holds a master's degree in International Relations from the University of Balochistan.

In 2020, Haider received a scholarship in the University of Sussex which is a public research university located in Falmer, Sussex, England.

Jalila Haider has been a supporter of the rights of vulnerable communities and has spoken out against human rights violations and abuses faced by them.

Jalila Haider has campaigned against the enforced disappearances and killings of Baloch political workers and has led protests and sit-ins against the ethnic cleansing of the Hazaras.

Jalila Haider participates and speaks against the atrocities faced by the Pashtuns and believes that their pain is similar as they are all demanding for their right to life guaranteed in the Constitution of Pakistan.

Jalila Haider addressed a meeting of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement in Quetta in March 2018, for which she received criticism and harassment.

Apart from her political activism, Jalila Haider has been practicing law at the Balochistan Bar Council for years.

In 2018, Jalila Haider met Mr Ihsan Ghani, National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Authority in Islamabad to put forward the grievances of the Hazara women who are facing social, economic and administrative challenges as the male breadwinners of their households have been killed.

In 2015, Jalila Haider was selected as one of 'News Women Power 50' list of Pakistan's most influential and powerful women.

Jalila Haider was a 2016 Swedish Institute Young Connectors of the Future Fellow.

Jalila Haider was named in the BBC's 100 Women in 2019 which is a list about inspiring and influential women compiled by BBC.

Jalila Haider was chosen as an International Woman of Courage in March 2020 by the US Secretary of State.

Jalila Haider received Hum TV Women Leaders Award 2020, for her achievement in the past year.

Jalila Haider has received criticism from her society and threats and harassment from state and non-state actors for her activism against human rights excesses.

In March 2019, Jalila Haider's name was put on Pakistan's Exit Control List after her participation in the public gatherings of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement.