After a prolonged illness, Tahira Mazhar Ali passed away in Lahore on Monday. Her death has dealt a great blow to the left, and her family and friends.
Tahira was daughter to Sir Sikander Hayat Khan, who served as united Punjab’s prime minster between 1937 and 1942. She was a student of the Queen Mary School in Lahore. Her political journey began when she married Mazhar Ali Khan at the age of 16; Khan was a student leader at the time.
She is best known as a champion of human rights and her work for women’s rights and labour spans six decades. She created the Democratic Women’s Association (DWA) in 1950. This was Pakistan’s first organisation dedicated to women’s rights, and functioned under the umbrella of the Communist Part.
Tahira believed in grassroots level activism and mobilisation, and strived for change that was long lasting. She was one of the few women that stood tall against dictator regimes. It was no secret that she fiercely opposed both the Ayub and Zia rule. It was because of this that the DWA was banned under Ayub Khan during the 60s and functioned with several restrictions under Bhutto and Zia. It was because of these restrictions that the Women’s Action Forum (WAF) was created in 1981 to serve as a voice against absurdities such as the Hudood Laws and Zia’s oppressive rule.
She continued to partake in postglacial processions and rallies even in her old age and failing health. She was a member of the Central Working Committee of the National Workers Party until her death.
She is survived by her daughter Tauseef Hyat, and sons Tariq Ali and Mahir Ali.
Her funeral was held today at her house in Shah Jamal, Lahore.