Chairperson of Pakistan Caucus in US Congress Sheila Jackson dies of Cancer

Celina Ali

Islamabad: Chairperson of the Pakistan Caucus in US Congress, Congresswoman Jackson L Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, has passed away at the age of 74 after a battle with cancer.

“Today, with incredible sorrow for our loss yet deep appreciation for the life she shared with us, we announce the passing of US Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of the 18th Congressional District of Texas,” her family said.

“A national, local, and global humanitarian, she was admitted worldwide for her courageous fights for criminal justice, racial justice, and human rights, with a special emphasis on children and women and women,” the statement maintained.

Jackson Lee had announced in June that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing medical treatment. She served in the House since 1995 and leaves a legacy of pushing for legislation linked to civil rights.

The Texas Democrat had introduced law for the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which Biden signed in 2022. She had also worked with successive Pakistani governments and prominent leaders, serving as a bridge between Islamabad and Washington.

Who was Jackson Lee? She was born in Queens, New York. A graduate of Yale University and the University of Virginia Law School, she also worked as a lawyer in private practice and as a staff counsel for the House Select Committee on Assassinations.

She also served in Houston’s government as a member of the City Council and municipal judge before being elected to Congress, where she sat on the Judiciary, Homeland Security and Budget committees. Jackson Lee is survived by her husband, two children and two grandchildren.