Sabeen Mahmud, a prominent Pakistani social and human rights activist, was shot dead on Friday, April 24, 2015 shortly after hosting an event on Balochistan’s “disappeared people”, in the southern city of Karachi.

Sabeen Mahmud was leaving her Karachi cafe, where she holds art exhibitions and talks, when gunman on a motorcycle attacked her.  Her mother, who was with her, was wounded, police said.

Sabeen, was the director of the social forum T2F, a café and arts space that has been a mainstay of Karachi’s activists since it opened its doors in 2007. Since its establishment, T2F has grown into a space for open discussion and sharing of ideas on issues ranging from politics to human rights.

At Urgent Action Fund-Africa, we are shocked and disheartened by the death of Sabeen. Today, we mourn the loss of a sister and courageous human rights defender, who led and advocated for the human rights of her people.

We condemn in the strongest term the murder of Sabeen Mahmud, which seeks to silence vital voices in the country. At this critical juncture in Pakistan the voices of human rights defenders is ever more needed. We urge the authorities of Pakistan to open urgent, effective and transparent investigations.

We extend my condolences to the family and friends of Sabeen Mahmud. Her sacrifices for the sake of advancing democracy in Pakistan will not be forgotten.

Her legacy and achievements in building the foundations of an open, transparent and stable democracy will endure and her example will serve as a model for civil society activists in Pakistan and around the world.