Mahtab Bashir
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On November 10, 2025, Pakistan lost two brilliant minds, Arfa Sayeda Zehra and Irfan Siddiqui, who dedicated their lives to education, language, history and society. Both intellectual giants and passionate advocates for Urdu, they inspired with their humility and soft-spoken wisdom. Their words resounded deeply, leaving lasting impressions on all who listened. A loss of such influential figures creates an irreplaceable void, but their legacy will endure in the knowledge they shared and the countless lives they touched.
Dr. Arfa Sayeda Zehra, the eminent Pakistani educationist, intellectual, and human rights advocate, passed away on November 10, 2025, at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy of scholarly excellence and tireless activism. Her passing marks the end of an era for the academic and social fabric of Pakistan.
After completing her early education at Lahore College for Women University and Government College University in Lahore, she pursued further studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where she earned a Master of Arts in Asian Studies and a Doctorate in History. Her ground-breaking dissertation on Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan, "Man with a Mission", is an evidence to her deep commitment to understanding South Asian intellectual history.
Dr. Zehra’s academic career was marked by a series of ground-breaking roles, including serving as the principal of Lahore College for Women University, the Government College for Women, and as a professor emeritus at Forman Christian College.
Over the years, as I hungrily studied language, two voices have guided me like stars: Arfa Sayeda Zehra and Sashi Tharoor. Both tease and sculpt words with such deftness that listening becomes a feast for the soul. ASZ, raised her voice not to roar, but to summons society to its better self. An educationist, a professor emeritus, a tireless human rights advocate, she wore many lights at once, and they burned with uncommon grace. Her departure left a void so deep it altered the geography of our generations. Gen Y, Gen Z, and the years that follow still feel the tremor of her absence, as if a compass has been laid down in unrecoverable distance.
She was a passionate advocate for the Urdu language, emphasizing its importance for the nation’s cultural identity. Known for her expertise in intellectual history, South Asian social issues, and gender equality, Dr. Zehra played a pivotal role in shaping Pakistan’s academic discourse. She also held significant public offices, including the chairmanship of the National Commission on the Status of Women and as a former caretaker provincial minister of Punjab.
Beyond academia, Dr. Zehra's voice was heard at language conferences, televised forums, and in forums advocating for gender equity and the rights of women. A tireless supporter of the literary and intellectual development of Pakistan, her work has left an indelible impact on both the education sector and the broader cultural landscape. She was also a recipient of the prestigious University of Hawaii’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016.
Dr. Zehra’s passing is not only a loss for the academic community but for all those who championed the causes she so passionately advocated. Her dedication to education, her fight for female equity, and her unwavering commitment to the rights of the marginalized will remain her enduring legacy.
Senator Irfan Siddiqui, a towering figure in Pakistan's political and journalistic circles, passed away on November 10, 2025, at the age of 68 after battling severe respiratory complications. His death, following a two-week hospitalization, marks the end of a career that spanned decades, during which he played an instrumental role in Pakistan’s politics.
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| Late Irfan Siddiqui in discussions with the late President Rafiq Tarar and my late father, BHN |
Raja Irfan Siddiqui stood as a steady beacon, steering Pakistan through its fiercest storms with quiet resolve. From shaping national affairs to guiding Senate debates, his loyal badge shone, a proof to a life spent in service, leaving a charity of memories that ache with his absence. May his enduring legacy live in the causes he championed and the example he set, a seasoned leader who faced turmoil with dignity and a steadfast heart.
Siddiqui was a senior member of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and served as a Senator for Punjab, holding significant positions such as Parliamentary Party Leader and Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. His close ties with the Sharif family, especially his advisory role to Nawaz Sharif, cemented his influence in the party and government.
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| A file photo of this scribe with Senator Irfan Siddiqui |
Beyond his political career, Siddiqui was a prolific writer, with his book, PTI and Pakistan: From Cypher to Final Call, offering critical insights into Pakistan's political crises. However, his final days were surrounded by controversy, with reports suggesting he was kept on life support during the Senate's controversial passage of the 27th Constitutional Amendment, a matter that continues to spark debate.
Despite the controversies, Siddiqui's legacy as a dedicated party loyalist, political reformer, and thoughtful commentator will endure in Pakistan’s history.
May both ASZ and Irfan Siddiqui rest in peace.
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