Saneeya: From Pakistan with Love (5 min)

Portrait of Pakistani journalist, Saneeya Hussain who embodied "feminism" and "women's rights" in the most undogmatic way, living life on her own terms and in doing so, countering the trends that militate against women's individual freedoms in Pakistan specifically and South Asia in general (She was also a dear friend and my Editor at The Star Weekend in Karachi).
She died on April 20th 2005 in Sao Paulo, Brazil where she lived with her Brazilian husband Luis, a geographer. Ironically, says Luis, it was a traffic jam that killed Saneeya, preventing them from reaching hospital in time after she had a severe asthma attack on April 7. She stopped breathing on the way and went into a coma from which she never emerged.
Through interviews with family and friends, archive video and stills, the film captures her life. Who and what influenced her, the traditional rules she broke, and the legacy she leaves behind.
Thanks to Saneeya's friends and family for archival material, photos and music
Directed and produced by: Beena Sarwar, for the Television Trust for Environment, UK
Camera: Sultan Butt, Beena Sarwar
Editing: Jibran Zuberi, Indie Visuals
Sound: Jibran Zuberi
Music: Allan Faqir, courtesy Hameed Haroon