Woman behind Pakistan's first hackathon, Sabeen Mahmud, shot dead by unknown gunmen

The progressive activist and organizer who ran Pakistan's first-ever hackathon and led a human rights and a peace-focused nonprofit known as The Second Floor (T2F) was shot dead today by unidentified gunmen in Karachi.

Sabeen Mahmud was leaving the T2F offices with her mother some time after 9pm on Friday evening, reports the Pakistani newspaper Dawn. She was on her way home when she was shot, the paper reports.

This is the last photograph on her Instagram, a snapshot from a meetup about human rights tweeted just two hours ago, right before her murder.

Unsilencing Balochistan (Take 2) with Wusat Ullah Khan, Mama Qadeer, Farzana Baloch and Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur. Moderated by Moneeza Ahmed #T2F #Karachi A photo posted by Sabeen Mahmud (@neebas) on Apr 24, 2015 at 9:03am PDT

From Dawn:

She died on her way to the hospital. Doctors said they retrieved five bullets from her body, which has now been shifted Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre. Her mother also sustained bullet wounds and is currently being treated at a hospital; she is said to be in critical condition. T2F had on Friday organised a talk on Balochistan: 'Unsilencing Balochistan Take 2: In Conversation with Mama Qadeer, Farzana Baloch & Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur.' Sabeen had left T2F after attending the session, when she was targeted. T2F, described as a community space for open dialogue, was Sabeen's brainchild. In an interview with Aurora, she referred to it as "an inclusive space where different kinds of people can be comfortable." Conceived as a bookstore and café patterned after the old coffeehouse culture of Lahore and Karachi, The Second Floor — or T2F, as everyone calls it — says on its website that it was born out of a desire to enact transformational change in urban Pakistani society.

The "about" page on T2F's website:

Coffeehouse tradition is all about sparking conversations and we are passionate about providing a platform for people to engage with each other. A community space for open dialogue, T2F features a café and bookshop and hosts poetry readings, meetups with writers, talks, debates, theatre performances, film screenings, open mic nights, jam sessions, and standup comedy. T2F, formerly known as The Second Floor, because it was housed on the second floor of a nondescript office building, is PeaceNiche's flagship initiative. A social entrepreneurship project that blends the best of business practice with the non-profit urge to make meaning, T2F is committed to social change through the liberal arts, creative expression, and open dialogue. Since its inception in May 2007, T2F has hosted hundreds of events, ranging from poetry readings and film screenings, to vibrant debates on critical issues. With the support and participation of musicians, artists, writers, film makers, scientists, comedians, thought leaders, and engaged audiences, T2F has contributed to revitalizing Karachi's cultural landscape and has provided an alternative, independent, safe space for discourse.

Sabeen's Instagram bio described herself as a "Post Modern Flower Child, Unabashed Mac Snob, Pink Floyd Devotee, Tetris Addict, West Wing Fanatic, [who] Will Die for Hugh Laurie."

Judging from the many snapshots she posted to social media, she loved her mom, her cat, '80s music, technology, and peace and justice. She was one of us.

Some of her Instagram images follow, below.

[HT: @oxbloodruffin]

#Karachi kee tau kucch baat hee aur hae. Citizens step out and rise up against terrorism #NeverForget #Peshawar #ArrestAbdulAziz A photo posted by Sabeen Mahmud (@neebas) on Jan 16, 2015 at 9:12am PST

United against terrorism. Karachi steps out and rises up against terrorism #NeverForget #Peshawar #ArrestAbdulAziz A photo posted by Sabeen Mahmud (@neebas) on Jan 16, 2015 at 7:43am PST

Descent into silliness A photo posted by Sabeen Mahmud (@neebas) on Feb 10, 2015 at 8:15am PST

Surreal #PPPJalsa A photo posted by Sabeen Mahmud (@neebas) on Oct 18, 2014 at 5:20am PDT

Nani. In her element. Prepping for an oral histories interview #90 A photo posted by Sabeen Mahmud (@neebas) on Feb 15, 2015 at 6:16am PST

Bandaids that make you want to hurt yourself. Not that I need any incentivization #LikeABoss A photo posted by Sabeen Mahmud (@neebas) on Nov 5, 2014 at 12:59am PST

Zakia from Lyari, reminiscing about the day she met Benazir Bhutto, with tears in her eyes #PPPJalsa A photo posted by Sabeen Mahmud (@neebas) on Oct 18, 2014 at 5:47am PDT

I think this animal is ready for 9gag #JaaduDiaries A photo posted by Sabeen Mahmud (@neebas) on Dec 2, 2014 at 12:15am PST

Silence is criminal. Karachi steps out and rises up against terrorism #NeverForget #Peshawar #ArrestAbdulAziz A photo posted by Sabeen Mahmud (@neebas) on Jan 16, 2015 at 5:52am PST

Army Public School. The site where mayhem and horror was unleashed on 16 Dec 2014 #Peshawar #NeverForget A photo posted by Sabeen Mahmud (@neebas) on Dec 25, 2014 at 10:28pm PST