In countries like Pakistan, there is a prevailing view that activism for human rights, advocacy for women’s rights, promotion of liberalism, efforts against injustices and discriminations, and condemnation of sectarianism and religious intolerance are often deemed as western agendas or severely criticised, particularly when undertaken by women.
Due to such activism and outspoken voices, many women have been killed, and many continue to face criticism. Sabeen Mahmud was one such woman who bravely raised her voice against discrimination and injustices, playing an active role. Sadly, she is not with us today.
Born on 20 June 1974 in Karachi and raised there, Mahmud was educated at Karachi Grammar School and later at the Kinnaird College. She later founded an interactive media and technology consulting firm and worked to establish the Citizens Archive of Pakistan.
Additionally, she set up The Second Floor (T2F) a Karachi-based cafe in 2007 aimed at providing a community space for open dialogue, hosting public forum discussions, film screenings, poetry writing, stand-up comedy and live theatre. Under Mahmud’s leadership, T2F arranged a series of liberal social activities. She also took part in Pakistan for All, a campaign to end sectarianism and religious intolerance in Pakistan. She also presided over the Karachi branch of TIE (The Indus Enterpreneurs), in which she was trying to foster the entrepreneurship through networking and education.
Mahmud wanted to challenge basic and toxic issues that damage human’s lives, peace and prosperity, encouraging critical thinking. She told Dawn that her biggest dream is to ‘change the world for the better through the Internet.’
She went on to form PeaceNiche, an organisation that provides a ‘social platform’ for public good. Mahmud founded a small tech company called ‘bits’ with Zaheer Kidvai, with whom she worked in 2 other companies from the age of 14, and considered him her parent and mentor. In 2013, Sabeen co-hosted Pakistan’s first civic hackathon, held at T2F in Karachi, which was designed to bring together people from different disciplines to brainstorm ways to solve civic problems. Mahmud hosted public figures, including Ayesha Siddiqa who authored a controversial book on military financing, leading to the Inter-Services Intelligence contacting The Second Floor.
During the late hours of 24 April 2015, Mahmud was fatally shot by gunmen on her way home after hosting a seminar. The gunmen shot her four or five times with a 9mm gun, as her car waited at a traffic light less than 500 metres from T2F.
According to a police official, the murder was a direct target killing and was booked by the police under the Terrorism Act. Her mother Mahenaz Mahmud was also critically wounded in the attack and taken to the Aga Khan Hospital for treatment by Nuzhat Kidvai. The seminar, titled ‘Unsilencing Balochistan (Take 2)’, was held at the T2F cafe and focused on Balochistan. Among the guest speakers was the Baloch activist Mama Qadeer.
According to Mama Qadeer, Mahmud and her mother left shortly after the event ended. The event had been rescheduled from 21 April to 24 April, and at a different venue, as organisers had received threats earlier. The Chief Minister of Sindh Qaim Ali Shah condemned the killing and called an inquiry into the incident. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif extended his condolences to the family and sought a report from investigating authorities. The activist’s death was also met with shock by prominent media and civil society members on social media. Nasreen Jalil, Mosharraf Zaidi, Altaf Hussain, Fasi Zaka, Raza Rumi, Hamid Mir, Arif Alvi, Fatima Bhutto, Taimur Rahman, Kamila Shamsie, Malala Yousafzai and Sharmila Farooqi, among others, poured condemnations over the incident. General Asim Bajwa, director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations, strongly condemned the killing and assured that intelligence agencies would provide assistance in capturing the perpetrators. A panel in memory of Mahmud was held at the 2015 Islamabad Literature Festival. On 23 May 2015 an international Hackathon was organized in memory of Mahmud.
On 20 May, Chief Minister of Sindh Qaim Ali Shah stated that the mastermind behind Mahmud’s murder had been arrested. The culprit also confessed his involvement in the bus shooting against Ismailis in Karachi. The accused were later identified as Saad Aziz and Aliur Rehman. It was also her take on Valentine’s Day that irked the religious quarters.
Sabeen mehmud was the winner of many national and international awards including the Award by Foreign policy, which was a proud moment when Sabeen was selected as the only person from Pakistan among the 100 leading Global thinkers, she was chosen ‘for creating a safe space in an illiberal society’
After Sabeen’s demise, her mother Mehnaz carried forward her vision and initiated the Sabeen Mahmud Foundation which sustains Sabeen’s many projects, including Peace Niche, Faraar Gallery and Art Bazaar.
A German Filmmaker, named as Schokofeh Kamiz’s, made a documentary film on her struggles and her brutal assassination in Karachi
