January 07, 2016
@TanqeedOrg | www.tanqeed.org
The Tanqeed editorial team is shocked to learn about the disappearance of one of our own: Salman Haider, a famed Urdu poet, a large-hearted editor, a thoughtful scholar, and a committed activist.
Haider, affectionately known as Sallu Bhai, has been missing since roughly 10pm last night when his wife received an anonymous text message notifying her that Sallu Bhai’s car could be picked up from Koral Chowk, Islamabad. Since then, there has been no word of Haider’s whereabouts.
Sallu Bhai has been a fixture on Tanqeed’s team, spending countless hours translating, revising and editing Urdu articles in addition to penning his own Urdu blog. In a prescient poem written nearly 6 months ago and published on his blog, Sallu Bhai spoke of his friends’ disappearances and predicted that it may, one day, be his turn:
In addition to his editorship, Haider is a renowned playwright and poet who has penned provocative works like his poem “Mein Bhi Kafir Tu Bhi Kafir,” a witty and politically sharp riposte against the rising tide of social conservatism.
Salman Haider also teaches at Fatimah Jinnah University where he is a lecturer in the gender studies department.
The Tanqeed team calls on journalists, artists, activists and the literati to help us #RecoverSalmanHaider. We also hope that authorities move quickly to find Sallu Bhai and that he returns home safely and speedily.
Signed –
TQ Editors-in-Chief
If there are any petitions or actions that can be taken please post them here. In solidarity.