Pakistani politician
Tahira Asif (Urdu: طاہرہ آصف; 1961 – 19 June 2014) was a Pakistani politician who had been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan from June 2013 until her assassination.
Early life
She was born in 1961 in Lahore, Pakistan.[1]
Political career
Asif was elected to the National Assembly of Pakistan on a reserved seat for women from Punjab as a candidate of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) (PML (Q)) in 2002 Pakistani general election.[1]
She left PML (Q) to join Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in 2007 and resigned from her National Assembly seat.[1]
She ran for the seat of the National Assembly from NA-126 Lahore constituency in 2008 Pakistani general election but was unsuccessful and secured only 517 votes.[1]
She again ran for the seat of the National Assembly as a candidate of MQM from NA-126 Lahore constituency in 2013 Pakistani general election but was unsuccessful and secured only 422 votes.[1] However following the general election, she was indirectly elected to the National Assembly as a candidate of MQM on a reserved seat for women from Sindh,[1] where she continued to serve till her death in June 2014.[2]
Death
Asif was shot dead on 18 June 2014 by two armed men (target killing), while she was traveling with her daughter and driver in Lahore.[3] She was admitted to Shaikh Zayed Hospital where she died on 19 June 2014.[4]
MQM announced three days of mourning.[5] National Assembly paid her tribute and demanded inquiry into her killing.[6] Altaf Hussain, leader of MQM said that her murder was a target killing from religious extremists as she had not been provided adequate security.[4]
See also
References