Malik Jarar later succumbed to his injuries. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD SAQIB/FILE
PESHAWAR: A senior Shia lawyer, Advocate Malik Jarar Hussain, was shot dead on Gulbahar Road in Peshawar on Friday morning. He was also a council member and a former vice-chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan’s (HRCP) Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa chapter.
Jarar was dropping his children to school when two motorcyclists intercepted his car on Gulbahar Road and shot him. He was being rushed to Lady Reading Hospital when he passed away.
The attackers managed to flee the area after the incident.
The lawyer was a resident of Gunj inside the walled city of Peshawar, but he was residing in Asad Anwar Colony in Gulbahar.
Members of the Shia community lashed out at the provincial government and police for their failure to provide security.
The HRCP strongly condemned the killing. A statement issued by the commission said, “HRCP condemns Malik Jarar’s killing in the strongest words and condoles with the family for their loss.”
“As HRCP grieves the loss of a fearless human rights defender and a fine gentleman, it calls upon the government for the umpteenth time to take measures to guarantee safety of human rights defenders and indeed all citizens and hopes that effective steps will be taken to bring Jarar’s murderers to justice.”
Two Shia doctors, a police SP and a number of others have been killed in sectarian attacks during the past few months in Peshawar.
Earlier, in January 2013, Lawyers from the district bar association had observed a strike and boycotted court proceedings demanding an action by the government to provide security to the lawyers and arrest the culprits.
COMMENTS (18)
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Farewell my friend It's time for you to go Your friend ship was a blessing and I will miss you so We shared so many secrets You brightened my days You brought me so much happiness With your kind and loving ways You lifted my up my spirit When I was feeling blue No matter what was happening You knew just what to do The best friend I ever had God is here to take you home And we must part my dear brother GOODBYE
It is sad when innocent lives are lost, and it is even sadder when a father is ruthlessly killed in front of his children. To say the least, it leaves them emotionally damaged. We strongly condemn this ruthless killing and send our condolences to the children who had to endure the pain of watching their father getting killed. Violence has no place in any society, and we reach out to all who had their family members killed in senseless violence.
Abdul Quddus DET-United States Central Command www.centcom.mil/ur
@Nadeem: You ask: "I have not read ever “Sunni” Lawyer killed. Why ?"
When you read news on death of soldiers and religious personalities of some preferred sects you will find lot of comments from readers that would say: Inna Lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un
There is not even one such comment on this news. This is probably the reason.
Heartfelt condolences to the grieved family and may Allah grant Advocate Malik Jarar a place in heaven
Will OIC look into this ?
I am Ahle sunnat and would like to say to those who are questioning the mention of the deceased (shaheed's) sect. It is very important to mention that as the motive was to kill 'shia' person.... that was his only crime. The barbaric killers looked for him sorted him from all the surrounding people and killed him, it is different than random terrorism (which is bad as well) in which any one can be a victim and the barbaric killers don't care who they are killing. In order to fix the issue it is important to identify the motive of the killers.
So for example If they target a policeman then it should be mentioned as such and so on...
What would be mischievous is if the news had mentioned that a 'sunni' killed a 'shia lawyer' as I don't think that the killers are even worthy of being called a human let alone muslim or sunni! They are not even worthy of being called animals as they are pure agents of devil.
So people don't feel offended and unite to destroy these agents of devil and protect your brothers....
@Ayesha: There are shias in Indonesia. And they are targeted too!
So the SP or the 'OTHERS' didnt have a sect or a religion or an identity, Good job in fueling sectarianism
I wonder why 'Taliban' comes from only one ethnicity, Why they so backward? Although most of them don't support 'Zaliman'
Lawyer gunned down in Peshawar-
Shia Lawyer gunned down in Peshawar?? The impact of the way headlines are given!
enough bloodshed ! if Pakistani shias whould be living at one place like east-Timor (previously Indonesian province) they would be looking for separation. we need to stop the unholy fasaad
It is amazing that there is never any news story talking about the investigation of these violent crimes, let alone any arrests or convictions. It does not seem like the country would be any different if there was no government at all, as our leaders are clearly only interested in protecting their seats and their pocketbooks rather than the future of our country. I hope citizens everywhere are taking note and will vote out the PPP government in the upcoming elections.
@Nadeem: coz no lwyer has been killed for being a sunni !!! open ur eyes n broaden ur mind plz
@Nadeem: Yesterday a sunni doctor was killed in Karachi
How do we know this was sectarian ? People unfortunately die every day in Pakistan, whether it be sunnis or shias.
Love for all hatred for none is the only way forward for Pakistan, may the deceased rest in peace and may Allah shower his blessings upon him
I have not read ever "Sunni" Lawyer killed. Why ?
Ethnic cleansing eh ?