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[Back to main obituary write-ups page] HR activist Shahla Zia passes away By Our Reporter ISLAMABAD, March 10: Shahla Zia, one of the pioneers of the women rights movement in Pakistan, died here on Thursday morning after a brief illness. She was 58 and leaves behind two daughters and a son. She was buried at the Islamabad Graveyard in the evening. Her funeral was attended by family members and a large number of people from different walks of life, including lawyers, parliamentarians, representatives of civil society and government officials. The late Ms Zia was the daughter of eminent educationist Dr Satnam Mahmood and prominent freedom fighter Nawabzada Mahmood Ali Khan. One of the founding members of Women Action Forum Aurat Foundation and the AGHS women's law firm and legal aid centre, Ms Zia was one of those women activists who were jailed for protesting against the Law of Evidence at the Lahore High Court in 1983. She was at the forefront of the struggle against all discriminatory laws against women and religious minorities. Ms Zia made immense contribution to law reform and research on women's legal, political and development issues. She was one the main authors of the 1997 report of the Commission of Inquiry on Women and an author and co-editor of the 'National Report-1995' for the Women's Conference in Beijing. She conceptualized the chapter on women's development for the 9th five-year plan for the Planning Commission. She had resign from the various government committees and the Beijing Core Group when the 15th Constitutional Amendment was introduced in Parliament in 1998. In the death of Shahla Zia the women and human rights movements have lost a sincere and courageous activists. [Source: http://www.dawn.com/2005/03/11/nat17.htm Human rights activist Shehla Zia dies Staff Report LAHORE: Shehla Zia, a prominent human rights activist and the joint executive director of the Aurat Foundation, died on Thursday morning in Islamabad after protracted illness at the age of 58. She is survived by two daughters, Ayesha Baidar and Maleeha Zia, and a son, Aimal Zia. Her funeral was held in Islamabad and was attended by hundreds of human rights activists, lawyers, parliamentarians and members of civil society organisations. Shehla Zia offered a number of services to the cause of human rights particularly of women rights. She authored many books on women’s legal rights and contributed to the preparation of a report for an enquiry commission headed by Justice (r) Aslam Nasir Zahid, that drew attention to women’s legal and human rights. The report is recognised as the best reference book about the status of women and their rights. Shehla Zia was the founding partner of the AGHS women’s law firm and legal aid centre in 1980. She was a pioneering activist of the Women’s Action Forum and was one of those jailed for protesting against the law of evidence in the Lahore High Court in 1983. She was at the forefront of the struggle against all discriminatory laws against women and non-Muslim Pakistanis. Her immense contribution to law reform and research on women’s legal, political and development issues will form a shining chapter in the history of the women’s movement in Pakistan. All Aurat Foundation offices throughout the country will remain close today (Friday) to pay tribute to Shehla Zia’s services. [Source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_11-3-2005_pg7_30] Death of Shahla Zia condoled By Our Reporter ISLAMABAD, March 11: Chairperson of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Benazir Bhutto has condoled the death of Shahla Zia, one of the pioneers of the women rights movement in Pakistan. Ms Shahla Zia passed away in Islamabad on Thursday morning after a brief illness. In a message on Friday, Benazir said Shahla Zia was in the forefront of fight for the rights of women and for the repeal of oppressive anti-women laws. Despite threats by extremist elements for her outspoken and courageous support for the cause of women, she remained undeterred and pursued her mission with a rare singularity of purpose, she said. Late Shahla belonged to a distinguished family of freedom fighters and she would be remembered in her own right for the rich legacy she left behind. She had the courage of her convictions to resign from the government's various committees and the Beijing Core Group when the 15th Constitutional Amendment was introduced in parliament in 1998. Shahla will always be remembered for her immense courage, the PPP chairperson said. [Source: http://www.dawn.com/2005/03/12/nat12.htm] [Last updated: 26 March, 2005] |
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