Sabeen Mahmud: the reluctant revolutionary who lit up Pakistan’s civic space

Sabeen Mahmud (1974–2015) was a force of quiet rebellion, and it is quite difficult to label her or allocate her into a box of syllables — a tech entrepreneur, social activist, mentor, friend or a cultural catalyst?

Her death in 2015 in Karachi as she returned after successfully giving space at The Second Floor (T2F) to those who were turned away from many places shocked Pakistan but could not extinguish her legacy. Sabeen was shot at a signal in Karachi, and the date marks ten years to her unexpected passing.

Through her Karachi café and arts space, she created an inclusive space for free expression, proving that dialogue could flourish even under repression.

Born in Karachi, Sabeen remained truly unorthodox exploring what made sense to her be it through the wonders of tech or art. Her true calling of sorts emerged in 2007 when she opened T2F, a café and event space designed to spark conversations topics many refrained from — Balochistan’s conflict to question identity as well as rights of minorities and marginalised. As her The New Yorker profile noted, she disarmed critics with her “disarming laugh” and refusal to self-censor, hosting dissidents, artists, and even accused blasphemers.

T2F became a sanctuary in a city frayed by violence. Sabeen curated talks on sociopolitical developments, feminist poetry readings, and hackathons for social change — all while navigating threats from extremists. Her assassination in 2015, as BBC reported, mirrored the silencing tactics she’d long resisted.

Sabeen never saw herself as a hero. “I’m just a facilitator,” she insisted (Aurora). Yet her courage—hosting debates while wearing a motorcycle helmet for safety—embodied the resilience of Pakistan’s silenced voices.

In a nation where dissent is often met with violence, Sabeen Mahmud’s greatest rebellion was her stubborn faith in dialogue. Her story endures not just in tributes, but in every Pakistani who dares to speak up. The Sabeen Mahmud Foundation continues her work, supporting education and activism.