Editing Salima Hashmi (section)

== Political views ==
Hashmi comes from a socially and politically active family. Her father was the communist Pakistani writer, [[Faiz Ahmed Faiz]], and her mother, the British-born [[Alys Faiz]] was a journalist and peace activist in Pakistan. One of two daughters, Hashmi was always active in the arts, performing in plays before taking on painting professionally.<ref name="jazbah"/>

Salima expressed her frustration at the India and Pakistan nuclear tests by saying, "It would be so much more fruitful if these energies could be used in producing food to eat, providing shelter, freedom from disease and education for all."<ref name="jazbah"/>

Hashmi was about eight years old when Faiz Ahmed Faiz was imprisoned for his political views. She remembers visiting him in jail. Later, during the repressive years of [[General Zia-ul-Haq]] rule, Hashmi's father had to go into self-exile as a result of the harassment he faced by Zia's government. Therefore, Salima grew up in a politically charged atmosphere. Painting became her outlet.<ref name="jazbah"/>