Sabeen Mahmud’s murder case lodged, ISPR says intelligence agencies will assist in probe

KARACHI: The case of Sabeen Mahmud’s murder was lodged at the Defence police station on Saturday by Sabeen’s injured mother. The case includes anti-terrorism, murder and causing injury provisions.

Sabeen Mahmud, director at The Second Floor (T2F) was gunned down by unidentified armed assailants on Friday night after she left T2F.

Her funeral procession began at 3:30PM from T2F? Sabeen was laid to rest in Defence Phase-I graveyard after funeral prayers in Masjid-e-Mustafa.

Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Dr Farooq Sattar, PTI leader Arif Alvi and eminent social and political personalities attended the funeral.

According to the initial investigation, Sabeen was driving her car and her mother was in the passenger seat when she was shot at a traffic light near the Defence Library. Her attackers, were two men on a motorcycle who approached her vehicle and opened fire. Sabeen was shot four times and succumbed to her injuries en route to the hospital. Sabeen’s mother was also shot in the attack and is recovering.

Sabeen, was returning home after hosting a seminar at the T2F premises in Karachi’s Defence Housing Authority (DHA) Phase-II.

DG ISPR Major General Asim Bajwa condemned the tragic and unfortunate killing of Sabeen Mahmud. He tweeted that intelligence agencies had been tasked to render all possible assistance to investigating agencies.

We condemn the tragic & unfortunate killing of Ms Sabeen Mahmud.Our heart goes out to bereaved family at this sad moment-1/2

— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) April 25, 2015

Int agencies been tasked 2 render all possible assistance 2 investigating agencies 4 apprehension of perpetrators &bring them to justice-2/2

— AsimBajwaISPR (@AsimBajwaISPR) April 25, 2015

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sent his condolences to the family of the deceased and has immediately summoned a report on the incident.

Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah has directed Karachi police chief Ghulam Qadir Thebo to arrest the killers at the earliest.

A spokesman of the CM said that the chief minister has also sought a probe report on the brutal murder.

Condolences

KARACHI: Defence Phase -II Mein Firing, NGO Ki Director Sabeen Mahmud Janbahaq, Walda Zakhmi: Police. Rept: Sultan Angaria.

— Hamid Mir Geo (@Geo_voice) April 24, 2015

Brave rights activist #SabeenMahmud is no more. Silenced forever. RIP pic.twitter.com/Vwzo2MvMjw

— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaGeoNews) April 24, 2015

#SabeenMahmud Such a shocking news that she has been shot dead RIP Aameen pic.twitter.com/Dz3WChlUYh

— Wasay Jalil (@WasayJalil) April 24, 2015

“I felt so hopeless about this country, and then when I started meeting people here we got strength from each other" Sabeen Mahmud.

— fatima bhutto (@fbhutto) April 24, 2015

#RIPSabeen pic.twitter.com/iSUa3YCrQ0

— Samar Abbasi (@samarfactor) April 24, 2015

#SabeenMahmud You, Your Work and Your Thoughts, May Never Be Forgotten! #RIPSabeen pic.twitter.com/8VeYae92ak

— Parhlo (@parhlo) April 24, 2015

Profile

Sabeen Mahmud was the Founder and Director of The Second Floor (T2F). She used to run the café and got additional revenue from tabla, guitar and other classes held at T2F. She worked nights to pay her bills as it was a struggle.

A social entrepreneur committed to the intersection of the liberal arts, technology, and activism, Sabeen created a hub for creative expression in Karachi. She had 20 years of experience in graphic design, new media, and technology, and was also a co-founder of a boutique interactive media and technology (BIT) consulting firm. She was also a blogger, civil liberties activist, and a founding member of the All Pakistan Music Conference, the Citizens’ Archive of Pakistan, Aman Ittehad, and former President of the Karachi Chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE).

She was the Secretary of the Pakistan chapter of the South Asia Foundation and a member of Citizens for Democracy, a people’s movement that aims to mobilize public opinion against the dangerously rising tide of religious intolerance in Pakistan. Sabeen was also a Fellow of the Asia Society’s India-Pakistan Regional Young Leaders Initiative, a forum designed to broaden the dialogue on India-Pakistan relations through a focus on next generation leaders.

T2F (The Second Floor) is the first project of PeaceNiche. A community space for open dialogue, T2F provides citizens with a platform for social change through rich cultural activities, public discourse, and advocacy using progressive ideas and the new media. Other PeaceNiche initiatives include Faraar – A Playground for Creative Expression, Science Ka Adda, and the Urdu Poetry Preservation Project.

Since T2F's inception in 2007, it has hosted hundreds of events, ranging from poetry readings and film screenings, to vibrant debates on critical issues.

PeaceNiche, a not-for-profit NGO, registered under the Societies Act of 1860, promotes democratic discourse and conflict resolution through intellectual and cultural engagement. Committed to becoming a vibrant centre of Pakistan’s developing civil society, PeaceNiche works in the areas of Arts & Culture, Science & Technology, and Advocacy.