From Taliban Threats to Political Triumph: Shad Begum’s Incredible Journey

Shad Begum didn’t set out to be a hero. She was just a girl growing up in Pakistan’s remote Lower Dir district, near the Afghan border. In a place where the literacy rate was abysmal—less than 1% of girls attended school—Shad was lucky. Her father, a respected doctor, believed in the power of education, even for girls.

But life wasn’t easy. Even after Pakistan’s merger with Dir in 1969, education for girls was nearly impossible. The local ruler, Nawab Shahjahan Khan, feared that educated people would challenge his authority. Shad, though, was among the fortunate few. Her father not only allowed her to go to school but also involved her in his charity work, “Idara Khidmat-e-Khalk,” where she saw firsthand the social problems affecting women in her community.

A Turning Point

Everything changed when Shad turned 16. Her father suddenly asked her to stop attending public events with him. It was like a door slamming shut. Though it was a protective decision, Shad felt crushed, as if she were imprisoned. After two years, her father asked her to help handle women’s issues within his NGO, and that’s when Shad’s real journey began.

She encountered countless heartbreaking stories: women denied education, wives beaten by their husbands, daughters disinherited because of their gender, and the horrifying practice of honor killings. Shad became a voice for these women, but she soon realized that charity work wasn’t enough. The real change would come only when women gained political power.

From NGO Work to Politics

In 1994, Shad founded the Association for Behaviour and Knowledge Transformation (ABKT). She gathered women and girls, determined to make a difference. But she knew action spoke louder than words. That’s why, in 2001, she ran for local office as an independent candidate. It was a bold move in a society that had little room for women in politics.

Despite immense challenges, Shad won. But even then, women in the council were treated as second-class citizens. They had to sit in separate rooms and were excluded from decision-making. It was clear that winning the election was only the beginning of the battle.

Fighting for Equality

Over the next few years, Shad and her fellow female councilors fought for equality. She secured clean water for 5,000 families by installing hand pumps and reviving old wells. Slowly but surely, her efforts started to bear fruit. By 2007, women councilors gained the right to sit with men and participate in decisions.

Shad didn’t stop there. She pursued her education, earning both an MA and an MBA. But the road ahead was dangerous. In 2009, the Taliban issued deadly threats, forcing her to flee her home, leaving her children with their grandparents. It was a devastating blow. Many activists like her had already been killed.

Inspiring a New Generation of Leaders

Despite these setbacks, Shad refused to give up. She shifted her focus to empowering young women to step into leadership roles. Ahead of the 2015 local elections, she trained 300 young women in political leadership. The results were astonishing—50% of them won their elections.

In a region where fewer than 100 women had ever registered to vote, there are now over 93,000 women voters. Many of the female councilors are using their budgets to improve education and healthcare for women.

FAQs about Shad Begum:

Don’t Miss: Sonita Alizadeh’s “Daughters For Sale”