Dr Haider Ali died on the spot, while his son succumbed to injuries at a hospital. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
According to eyewitnesses, the doctor was passing by the FC College at 8am when unidentified gunmen intercepted his car and opened fire at it.
Dr Haider died on the spot, while his son sustained injuries. The child succumbed to his wounds at a hospital.
The post mortem report stated that Dr Haider was shot six times in the head, while his son Murtaza was shot once in the head.
Dr Haider was a leading eye specialist and a consultant at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust (SKMT)
"This is a sectarian killing. Ali had no personal enmity," the doctor's uncle, retired Lahore High Court judge, Justice Syed Fazal Haider told Express News.
The police have initiated an investigation into the incident.
The Superintendent at the Model Town police station, Malik Owais cautioned against calling this an anti-Shia killing whilst investigations were still underway.
The head of SKMT and chief of Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaf, Imran Khan condemned this killing.
“[It is] distressing to see professionals being killed along with their children. We cannot tolerate these brutal acts of terror,” Imran tweeted.
Dr Haider is survived by a wife, a son and a daughter.
COMMENTS (72)
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This is just to fuel more sectarian violence and thats it. I dont see any involvement of any other Muslim here. We have to realize and stand strong against "certain forces" who are against destabilizing Pakistan. Who are these forces, is a question yet to be answered!
Zia-ul-Haq zindabad
@Fawad Muzaffar: Had the country was created in the name of HUMANITY or secularity then its picture would be entirely different ,peaceful. liberal & progressive. It proved that it was a failed logic to create a country in the name of religion.
@Khalq e Khuda: It is a tragic incident but lets not jump to conclusions about the motive.
@Khalq e Khuda:
"Does it not merit a mention that they were killed because of their faith?"
Of course it does, considering that is the truth. Do you think that the fact that Shias are deliberately being targeted should be swept under the carpet? You would be right in your comment of this happens to be a stray incident. But, don't you think shias have been specifically targeted because of their faith for the past several decades in Pakistan?
Hand this case to Omar Virk. Devastating for the family.
@U-Turn: He is not a gem of a person just because he recites the Quran. It is because of his attributes, professionalism and kind acts. Unless everybody understands this difference, religious killings like this will continue unabated.
Let us learn to evaluate people at their face value not because of their religious orientation. This is the root of all trouble.
Why not kill every one with a Ali or Hussain or Hassan or a Hamza in their names...and then begin targeting a Mohammad, Ahmed or a Bilal.....I guess then no one in Pakistan deserves to live. We have hit rock bottom
im not a shia . .but the dr was one of the nicest guy ive met . . . and cant anybody notice the murder of his son ??? a 12 year old ???? a seventh grader ? what was his fault ? why did he deserve to die ???? please search on google of this event. . . and just look at the little kid . . just look at his innocence
I was a patient of Dr Ali Zafar and was overwhelmed by his brilliance and his modesty, his courtesy and cultivated manner. I am devastated at this heinous crime, and am ashamed of being a Pakistani.
Murtaza, Dr. Ali's son, is my son's friend and class fellow. Both the deceased were very sweet. There is no justification for such an insane thing. We must get up and protest against loss of innocent life.
Time for another two nation theory.
i'm so glad to see all these comments against shia genocide, and against taking anyone's life, really. it is not our place to judge who is right or wrong...why can't these extremists get that through their head? why aren't we doing anything? what will it take for us to rise against this? God forbid we lose someone close to us, is that what it will take to wake us up??
After destroying peace in Karachi, its militant party is now trying to spreading its wings in Lahore.
@Ali Hussain: Shame on rulers and the security forces who have failed in their national duty of protecting their own countrymen but instead siding with the killers.
Its time to come out on streets..... There will be no stopping.. Everyone's turn will come.. After Shias Muslims, Sunni Muslims too will be targetted. We seem to have a short memory. How can we forget what Taliban did to graves of Sunni Muslims in Swat..... These extremists are not Muslims.. Rather its a shame to call them human even,,
@Randeep Sherpao: not if you keep killing each other.
On behalf of the community here in Edinburh, I convey the condolences and sympathy to the family of Shaheed Dr Haiderali. It is a great loss and we want you to know that we share your sorrow at this difficult time.May Almighty Allah grant you Sabr- e - jameel. Amen
Faraz...stay close to home...they came for ahmadis then hindus then christians then shias then moderates....does not matter who you are...if you are not one of them they will come for you...and eventually even if you are one of them some one within you will come for you....
Hazaras should move to any non muslim country, may be they will accept them.
Shame is what I feel.
Shame is what I have to say !!
Such a humble and calm person...I lost my doctor today best doctor he treats me like his daughter..may his soul in rest n peace aameen
Find the killers and exterminate them.
People, speak up now before it's too late. The events of today and yesterday remind me of one of the most powerful work wriiten by Martin Niemöller:
First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the socialists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the jews, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the catholics, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a catholic. Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.
Very sad to read about him. Many people knew him and he seemed like a great person. I can't imagine what his wife and family must be going through right now. Imagine losing husband and 11 year old child. Ouch that really must hurt. How many families have these devils destroyed. May Allah protect the Shias of Pakistan that are being killed for their faith.
He was a great doctor and a human. Though I am not a Shiai but I strongly condemn the death of two innocent people merely based on their sect. I pray for the departed souls rest in peace.
@sree: Safe and well protected.It is the naive,poor and ill informed who are the fodder in this game.
All Pakistan cares for is: Afia, Ajmal, Afzal and OBL
I am his patient. He was an angel of a human being and an excellent doctor. I met him last December. I have never seen any doctor as caring and God-fearing as him. I'm devastated at this news. May he and his son rest in eternal paradise. May a million more Dr Ali Haider be born. May the perpetrators be given a punishable example.
O my fellow Pakistanis, rise and protest. Would your own father or son have to be killed to shake your conscience? :'(
I'm deviated to hear this. He was a true angel. I'm short of words. I don't believe it has happend. May you rest in eternal peace.... :'(. May this be the last shahadah. Stop Shia genocide!
Partition of 1947 is still going on in Pakistan which is changing its shape everyday.
Pakistan Army is the best army in the world on peace mission of UNO but in his own country it let loose armed jahedis to slaughter own muslims brothers in the name of Islam
I think this country has lost today a great asset.Not only his remaining son and daughter are being orphaned but the whole ophthalmologist society.
This country was created in the name of Islam.... for muslims (Sunnis and Shias). Where we are today is a proof our approach towards Islam needs to be revised. We need to root out this Mudrassa culture and we need a Kamal Ataturk or Jamal Abdul Nasir!
The bleeding Stethescope truly conveys the magnitude of this tragedy. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Compliments to the designer.( even the inanimate stethescope weeps)
Ali was my classmate and a friend. Of all the people I knew he was the kindest and most gentlemanly .. Son of Prof Zafar Haider and Prof Tahira Zafar, his sister is also a great doctor .. I have known him for the last 32 years .. and I feel I have lost a brother today. No words can ever bring him back but I can express my rage and disgust on these so called terrorists who are the lowest of humans, even that.
It was a shia who propounded the 2-nation theory, leading to horrific death of millions in 1947 and then in 1971 in most brutal manner. This brutal target killing of innocents based on sectarian motives is just a continuation of the 2 nation theory into a 2-sect theory.
We all mourn the continuation of zulm to the innocents of our nation. But is morning enough? what else can we do? We all need to rise and demand justice and nothing else not just for the security of the targeted community but for all or our existence. The Talban devils will not let us keep hiding our faces in sand for too long. Folks do something and make dua for increasing of your capacity to do and Allah will help us InshahAllah. Here are the contact information for supreme court and ISPR. Letters if written in large enough numbers will count.. InshahAllah
Supreme Court of Pakistan Constitution Avenue, Islamabad Telephone: 051-9220581-9220600 Fax: 051-9213452 Email : mail@supremecourt.gov.pk
ISPR Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa Tel Office: +92-51-9271600 Tel Office: +92-51-56130041 Fax Office: +92-51-9271682 Cell No: +92-302-8555741 Email: dg@ispr.gov.pk
Looks like an action taken by state strategic assets or non-state actors acting under the direction of the state.
I think I must stop reading of happenings in Pakistan ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ More tragic than the best Russian Writers Doestovesky , Tolstoy and others. "To live without Hope is to Cease to live. " Fyodor Dostoevsky
I smell that Lahore is no more Safe .
The state must show the resolve and take punitive action against the sectarian killers of hapless Shias otherwise another 1971 type situation is in the offing in Pakistan.
Ali was one of the nicest people one would ever meet. I had the honour to work along side with him as an orthopaedic surgeon. I wish his family and extended family of friends, patients and well wishers a heart fely condolence, His loss will be hard to forget.
This really a great loss of all his patients. Being his patient, I was proud to my country, where world's best eye treatment is going on because of the competent eye specialists like dr ali haider. May Allah bless him
What happened to all this self-righteous outrage when atrocities were committed on Pakistani Hindus during partition? Sorry but, you never screamed when "they" came for someone else.
@Dr Hammad Raza: He was the worst criminal ever. He was a shia like the two shot in Peshawar some few weeks ago.
Dear Pakistani Friends,
Please tell me how does these monsters differentiate who is a Shia and who is not. Would some body please explain me. Is it by name or some thing else.
Moreover, rarely I, do find a single day without target killings, bomb blasts, being reported in Pakistani news websites.
God save the nation !!! RIP !!!
@Parvez: Strange, that no politician of any mettle at the federal level has even made a comment.
While Mr. Zardari, confirms the appointment of three SHC judges and fetes the palestinian leader Mr. Abbas, the PM is not visible.
Imran , Thanks for the tweet, Are you still going to negotiate for 19 or 90 days with these monsters? Hypocrisy has its limits.
Nathan
Great loss to humanity. He could have saved so many lives if alive .
I worked with Dr. Ali Haider. He was one of the finest ophthalmologists in town, a humble fellow.I really feel ashamed to be called Pakistani today. What was the crime of Dr. Ali Haider and his 11 year old innocent son......
Any self respecting government with this dismal record would have stepped down a long time ago...................but then self respect seems to be the first quality our politicians abandon on coming into politics.
I just met him a few days ago. He was gem of a person. A seasoned professional, a humble person who used to give alot in charity. We have lost an asset for sure. Rest in Peace sir!
I am feeling disgraced being a Pakistani.
@Truth: Yes, the establishment still needs them.Their work inside Pakistan is not over yet.
UN nation should send peace keeping force in Pakistan
Does Pakistan still need its strategic assets?
Islam will win
Where is Hafiz saied...?
This is just unacceptable! No one has the right to decide who is religiously right or wrong and on the basis of that someone's fate who is living a peaceful life with his/her family. I vehemently condemn this inhumane act of brutality and offer my condolences to the family.
dr ali was the son of my professor of surgery syed zafar haider. im shocked and angry. dr ali was sir's only chil. that poor84 yr old had to live to see his line wiped out at the hands of these monsters
I think Ali and Hussein are names used by shias ? I'm correct?
This Doctor was known to me and my family. He was a gem of a person. Before operating his patients, he used to recite Darood-Shareef...
This is horrifying news for us, the doctors community and for every person who knew this loving gentleman. I cried when this news broke especially after hearing that his child was also martyred.
Islam does not allow this. This is not Islam. The people who commit such acts are non-believers and have nothing to do with us Muslims, both Shia and Sunni. This is unacceptable and the people sitting in Islamabad don't really care.
May the departed souls rest in peace, Ameen.
It is disgusting. Disgusting is too soft a word. Abhorable. Shia community are our brothers. In our younger days we never even made this distinction nor should we now. Our Muslim brother was shot. What are our security agencies doing. 8 am is rush hour and Gulberg is the poshest of areas.
We must stop hate factories to stop shia Killings, here is my take on this whole problem, stop hate to stop shia killings. http://stopextremism.wordpress.com/2013/02/17/hate-is-the-reason/
What a shame to kill such an innocent and humble person like Dr.Ali Haider. one of the most humble people I have met personally. I m not a shia, but I condem such a shameful act. Stop Shia genocide please !
What a humble person he was. May his soul rest in peace. such a Shamful act it is! I m not a shia, but I m just a muslim. Stop this Shia targeted genocide please. Dont kill innocent people like Dr. Ali Haider.
Sectarian attack, judging by the name of the victims?
How long will we remain quiet as a nation on this blatant SHIA GENOCIDE, when all Shia are killed whose turn it will be??? Stay silent at your own peril people. !!!!!
Another Shia killing.
Does it not merit a mention that they were killed because of their faith?