Poet and former principal of Liaquatabad College Professor Sibte Jafar. PHOTO: ALQAIM.TV
According to initial details, unidentified armed men opened fire at Jafar while he was commuting through the Liaquatabad area on his motorbike.
Jafar’s body was shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.
Police have started its investigation and more security personnel were summoned to keep the security situation in the area under control.
Evidence collected from the crime scene suggested that a 9mm pistol was used in the crime.
In the immediate aftermath of Professor Jafar's murder, professors and lecturers in the province have announced a boycott of educational activities on Tuesday.
Apart from his educational duties, Professor Jafar was well known for his sozkhwani and marsia recitals. He was also known for his poetry.
It has not been confirmed as yet if this was a sectarian attack.
The Shia Ulema council has announced three days of mourning and demanded that the killers be arrested immediately.
Shia community members have been targeted in the city by extremists. Recently, at least 50 people were killed in a terrorist attack in a Shia-neighbourhood of Abbas Town.
COMMENTS (79)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1731907834-0/Jonathan-Majors-and-Meagan-Good-(2)1731907834-0-405x300.webp "article")
1731906859-0/Jonathan-Majors-and-Meagan-Good-(1)1731906859-0-165x106.webp "article")
1724657897-0/Untitled-design-(2)1724657897-0-165x106.webp "article")
1728020241-0/Express-Tribune-Web-(12)1728020241-0-270x192.webp "pti says nov 24 will decide who stays in party")
He'll b missed by every single human.
The lovers of ahlul bayt a.s are killed by ignorant muslims. who are worst than animal. i remember mukhtar e saqafi words. “Today, I will go out to fight hypocrisy. It is the strongest enemy of religion (Islam). Hypocrisy appeared in the field within a religious and pious shape. Hypocrisy like a Coin which wrote the name of Allah on one side, and the image of Satan on the other side. Public see the name of Allah, people of knowledge see Satan.”
Guys what is the problem with average pakistanis? Why they are so religion sensitive ? Why dont they treat all as humans? I am really worried about minorities (Hindus, Crist, Ahmd and shias) there. Please understand they are also human.
The vacuum of his absence was never filled in 50Years. What a great man, what a loos.
@FP: dear sunnis are also killed because of there sect by sipahe sahaba
I don't think so @Singh:
Sadly, Muslims are no longer safe in Pakistan!
Yes,It is foreign hand and this foreign hand is Alay Saud (Saudi Arabia).
I am a Muslim and I am very sad for the killing of this Muslim professor. May God give him Jannat
Karachi is a killing field
Truely sad news for Pakistan and its ethnic minorities.
shame on the PPP for not doing anything for the common man and showering Pakistan with mismanagement and corruption!
Why is there no anti terror policy in Pakistan? Is this not a treachery to the Pakistan?
I am ashamed to be a muslim and more ashamed to be associated with Sunni islam which i believe is corrupted by evil mindsets of hate and intolerance.
Sibte Jaffer was indeed a great man. His death will be mourned throughout the Shia community of the world. May allah bless him with a place in heaven. This man has given his life for the sake of being Shia. Until when will this go on? It is absolute ridiculousness!
@another ordinary citizen: That's for you to understand. People are killed because they are shia, people are killed because they are social workers, people are killed because they oppose the obscurantists; people are killed because they are workers of a partilcular poltical party. And of course people are also killed in random firings, suicide bombings, bomb blasts, and so on. In most cases, it is clear to a person of average intelligence whether, and why, the person was targetted. It is not clear to those bigots who have decided to keep their eyes, ears and minds closed. The media people are intelligent people, hence they identify the probable cause of targetted killing, which is ninety nine per cent correct. But the government sees nothing, hears nothing adn says nothing. And the sympathisers of the obscurantists in the political parties and elsewhere will not speak up till they are the only ones left. And then their turn would come. But there would be no one left to speak for them!!
For all the blind people and so called educated fools who think that its not shia killing as are only 1-2 shia killed per 10 people, a simple fact would be given. in WW2 mostly christian people killed and christians were killing christians not on any faith or belief but for national reason and conquering other races. During the WW2 Jews were specially targetted because of their religion and belief so it was genocide. Now if you see, general people are killed in Pakistan by extremists because they are supporting government or perceived to have taken liberal view and are not supporting extremists so these extremists are killing everyone irrespective of the person race, cast or creed . example in northern areas, PKP etc. Shias are being killed because of their sect, its no more secret that all religious parties figureheads/clergies of certain schools of thoughts such as wahabi, deobandi, salafi, takfiri, ahle-hadith whether alive or dead think that Shias are kafir and have written books on that and you can found these books at any bookseller near mosques and madressas, also lot of online literature available on net. its not that shias are killing accidently as they were at wrong place at wrong time. They have been targetted, followed, warnings were given against them and killed in their respective areas where they have majority. Taliban and Jahangvi planned to bomb abbas town inside but failed to do so they have miscalculated the target otherwise if would have in the abbas town inside with 100 percent shia died then they would have taken the responsibility. This time they didnt because they dont want to be loathed by majority sunnis for that. Personally I know majority of sunnis dont endorse the shia killings and good with shias but many still indifferent (even educated lot) and think inside that marney do salon ku though they dont say this explicitly. I accept that there are sunnis killed but not due to the fact that they are sunnis but they are those not supporting extremists, they are those who are in other religious parties, they are those who are from different province, they are from military, they are from different linguistic and cultural, ethnic backgrounds but shias are being killed due to only one reason that they are shias.........shameful but true, accept that!
I've No words. Shaheed Sib-e-Jafer, its such a HUGE HUGE Loss. Great noble person, THE Best Poet & What a Legendary Voice. May ALLAH Help Us.
A month ago, Ustad Sibte Jafar addressed us in a seminar in which he said;
“I am constantly recieving death threats from outlawed militant outfits. My family, friends and some academic friends/colleagues are offering me full support for US or Canada migration. But why would I go? My whole life is spent in service of Imam Hussain(as) who got martyrdom for saving Islam. If I am to die for the same cause, why would I leave this country? I preach martyrdom, I enlighten about martyrdom, I write in praise of martyrs… than why should I run away from it? For a Shiite Muslim, martyrdom is the ultimate success.”
@Stranger: he has no personal enmity,he was loved by everyone.He is killed only because he was a true shia.
Its a huge loss! He will live on in our hearts and thru his beautiful recitations.... May we all learn thru his humility... R.l.P. and May Allah give strength to his loved ones..Ameen!
@FP: Just try to open up your mind and then look my friend. There is a difference between political killing and a secterian killing. Haven't you noticed LeJ/SSP taking responsibilities of killings shias in Quetta. Did you read the news of how killers stopped the buses en route to Iran, separated Shias from Sunnis and then killed them? Now tell me, is there any such thing happening to Sunnis (God Forbid!). Yes, Sunni brothers are being killed too, but not because they are Sunnis...
Doctors and teachers are building blocks of any civilized society. Any society killing them is akin to the proverbial individual who is cutting the very branch of the tree he is sitting on.
It's just a matter of time.....
. Ustad was not an individual, he was an institution; . Do not ignore the genocide; . Look into it . What you find, may change you forever - Are you man enough to venture into the taboo & break the chains of mental slavery, of ideas and idols... - One more time, before its too late, before you ignore the innocent's plea, give it one chance, give YOURSELF one chance, explore the possibilities...
Those who critise ET, please convince me why reality is really better than depicted in the Express Tribune.
Shias must arm and defend themselves as only condemning such attacks will not serve any useful purpose.
General Zia monsters are having a field day. When will it stop?
@syed: You said : Another massive loss -
What an empty and vapid comment!
@UMSyed:
According to a report of ET dated 5th March, 18 victims of Abbas Town Blast were Sunnis which means 31 of those killed were Shias ! Shias are around 15-20% of Pakistan's population and even if only 40% of the Abbast Town blast victims were Shias then one should not have any doubt about the actual target of the terrorists !
II am ver very sad my heart is fill with sorrow. Extreme frustrations. Sibte Jafar was an Icon for Shia Muslims. This is another victim of shia genocide in Pakistan. This genocide is carried out by Sipahe Sahaba, Lashkar Jhangvi and Taliban, supported by Pakistani Govt. Army and Intelligence.
All the people who are thinking that it is not shia killing are leaving in world of fool. If the killers accept after killed people that those killing due to sect what the reason to look another angle. Most of the people kill in Pakistan are due to some reason. Now days sectarian reason is on top.
@Lord. He could have made millions of dollar for his poetry and soazkhwani. He always said NO whenever someone wanted to give him money for his services. He was a college professor but was still riding his bike from the 70s. He sure was a simple and humble man. This is just such a tragic loss for his millions of admirers.
Qatil ko bhi maloom nahi uss nay kiya zulm ker diya.
Pakistani Nation - here is a prophecy for you
In not too distant future you all will be destroyed and those who run to other countries will suffer a great deal as well because THE WORLD HATES YOU.
@Ayesha Well said sister!
It is foreign hand.
He was killed because he was the follower of Ahlul Bait(a.s)
RIP Professor. And Jinnah - a Shia created Pakistan because Muslims would not be safe in Hindu majority India. Oh the irony!
A month ago, Ustad Sibte Jafar addressed us in a seminar in which he said; "I am constantly recieving death threats from outlawed militant outfits. My family, friends and some academic friends/colleagues are offering me full support for US or Canada migration. But why would I go? My whole life is spent in service of Imam Hussain(as) who got martyrdom for saving Islam. If I am to die for the same cause, why would I leave this country? I preach martyrdom, I enlighten about martyrdom, I write in praise of martyrs... than why should I run away from it? For a Shiite Muslim, martyrdom is the ultimate success."
His words resound loud in my ears along with his verse;
Mai Chala Hun Ali(as) Se Mulaqat Ko Jis Ka Tha Intizar, Wo Ghari Aa Gayi
Reminds me a lot of the genocide of intellectuals in Dhaka. Where most of them were incidentally Hindu. I am sure East Pakistan army had a few Shias in them. Somehow it's always the least educated one are Islamic puritans and they always kill the ones who are more educated and civilized.
@Syed- yes he surely was. What makes us think that he was killed solely for his subcaste. There might be some other angle hidden. Please dont jump to conclusions.
@Stranger: You are saying this because you dont know the person . He was a noble man. Simplicity was his trademark. In this materialistic world these sort of people are scarce. :(
@Syed: Sunni hearts bleed on hearing the news of killings of Shias as well but what proof do you have that Sibte Jafar bhai was killed just because he was a Shia? You said: "Parveen Rehman didn’t die because she was a Sunni, Sibte Jafar died for only one reason, because he was a Shia. " My simple question: How do you know that?
More then half of those killed in the Abbas town blast incident were Sunnis. The responsibility of the attack was not taken by LeJ or TTP as is the usual case. The attack was not carried out in/on Abbas Town, rather it was near Abbas Town. We should all be very careful not to make Pakistan another Iraq, lets all get united and fight the elements who are killing PAKISTANIS.
@FP: First your stats are wrong. And even if they were true, it is important to point out the sectarian angle in these killings and countless other major terrorism incidents because the motive is such. They are being sorted and killed just because they are shias. And it is even more important for your own long term security that you realise this and raise your voice. Otherewise pretty soon you also will be the target of these savages called Taliban/LEJ.
@Stranger. He had no personal enmity. He wasn't an ordinary Shia, he was a Shia icon. He was loved by SO many people and you will all find out soon.
I like Hina's comment = He is in a better place now. And why should we assume that he was killed for his religion . Invetigations are giong on. For all you know , he was killed for some personal enimity. Lets not fuel sectarian fires with our conculsions and rumours.
There is a reason why Shia genocide is taking place in Pakistan. The reason can also be found on this forum where so called educated people post. Sibte Jafar was a great SHIA sozkhan and a poet. Yes there are Sunnis dying in Pakistan too. Parveen Rehman didn't die because she was a Sunni, Sibte Jafar died for only one reason, because he was a Shia. You are either killing us or trying to divert the importance of this Shia genocide.
Sibte Jafar bhai you will be greatly missed. You are in a better place now.
@Hina Jafri: Hina, to me his better place was at his home with his wife and family, his students.
@ N5
"Recently, at least 50 people were killed in a terrorist attack in a Shia-neighbourhood of Abbas Town."
Please read this..... ET is not trying to hide the fact that there is a Shia Genocide going on in this country. You should know that out of the 50 people killed less then half were shia's. People think this was an attack on shia community because sunni's dont block read and destroy public property during and after funeral prayers.
No doubt this is a great loss of an Educationalist and killing in karachi has to stop.
Terrible! Such a great loss, not only to the Shia community but to the whole of Pakistan. Our country is crumbling and we are just watching. They're out to get us too!
@FP: Where are you getting your statistics? Are you blind to the news, to your surroundings? What's wrong with you, really?
@ Ali Please don't obfuscate issues!
This linear relationship has a historically demonstrated perspective of over 1400 years, the more you are active in reviving the tragedy of Karbala, the more likely you are going to be persecuted for it. Even the Emperor Akbar's Chief Justice met the deathly fate for this same crime if you want to study history.
Prof Sibte Jafar was a master of verse, rhyme and above all imagination. He would be invited all over the world yet his motorbike testifies to his simplicity of character. More worldly mortals could have made a fortune with his melodious voice put to other uses. But he made the wiser choice and dedicated his talents and efforts for Azadari - he will be rewarded far beyond his remotest expectations. Death is but a welcome release from this cruel world for souls such as his.
He will, however, have his part of justice per his own words........Jab Imam aingay
Recently, at least 50 people were killed in a terrorist attack in a Shia-neighbourhood of Abbas Town. And more then half of those killed were Sunnis. The responsibility of the attack was not taken by LeJ or TTP as is the usual case. The attack was not carried out in/on Abbas Town, rather it was near Abbas Town. Media should not report the incorrectly.
"strategic assets" destroyed a cultural assets. shame on army
For people confused in Sectarianism, Sectarianism means, Killed 'because' of faith.
@FP: Because shias who are killed in these sort attacks are common people like professors doctors bankers etc. Many of the killers when caught have accepted these killings and they accept they kill because victims are shias. You will never see a revenge killings targeting innocent sunnis and thats a fact. Face the reality as it is .
@N5: What proof do you have that he was killed based on his religious affiliations? Was Parveen Rehman killed because of her religious affiliation too? When will you stop being so narrow minded and wake up to the reality that many educated people who are working hard for Pakistan are being killed daily?
killing a professor really what would anyone gain out of this ?
inna lilahi wainna ilahi rajeoon another muslim killed here. @N5 and all others who are saying he died coz he was SHIA please have some mercy and respect. if 1-2/10 people dying are shia then its NOT shia genocide. Perveen Rehman died couple of days ago and she wasnt declared as a SUNNI worker died. In karachi 8-9 sunni people die every day and yet we dont differentiate shia/shunni . accept the fact that MUSLIMS are dying peshawar blasts, karachi blasts and all target killings are directed against muslims and not just shia.
@N5: First of all its a big loss for Pakistan and each and every community. Secondly, hundreds of target killings every week in Karachi, have you ever noticed that ET say that 'sunni professor gunned down' or 'sunni lawyer gunned down'. You never complain before but now since shia is killed you start complaing. Please be a human and muslim first before being sunni or shia.
inna lilahi wainna ilahi rajeoon another muslim killed here. N5 and all others who are saying he died coz he was SHIA please have some mercy and respect. if 1-2/10 people dying are shia then its NOT shia genocide. Perveen Rehman died couple of days ago and she wasnt declared as a SUNNI worker died. In karachi 8-9 sunni people die every day and yet we dont differentiate shia/shunni . accept the fact that MUSLIMS are dying peshawar blasts, karachi blasts and all target killings are directed against muslims and not just shia.
@FP! Its other way around brother!!
And the shia genocide continues! This place seems to be a heaven for all extremist and talibans..... I don't know when the army will intervene. Its better is all shias file an application in UN for protection under genocide.. There are provisions in UN charter for it....
@FP:
can you please check your stats?
in last 15 months over 500 shias have been targeted just because they are shias.
Our thirst for blood knows no end. After killing or driving away christians, hindus, ahmedis, and parsis, the monsters among us have turned their sights towards the shia.
That's really sad. But the amount of random people dying in Karachi, we should not jump to the conclusion that it was sectarian attack just because he is a known personality.
"unidentified armed men" they will always remain the same our police is there to eat rishwat
Why did you say "Professor gunned down"? why didnt you say "Shia professor gunned down" or "A reknowned Soz khwan gunned down"? He wasnt killed because he was a professor. He was killed because he was a Shia. Why does ET trying to hide the fact that there is a Shia Genocide going on in this country? This is higly irresponsible and unethical of ET.
Such a big LOSS.
Inna-lillah-e-wa-inna-illaehe-rijiyoun.. Alas we have lost another gem of person in this time of violance.. May his soul rest in peace..Ameen
What a loss to the community.. We are now deprived of a man who revitalized and reshaped the art of marsia khwani.. One must wonder when would this genocide end? When would people rise up a and not find reasons/justification to not call spade a spade!
RIP. He was the soz khwaan for all our family events. So saddened.
On every killing of Shia community why we suspect that its a sectarian attack. Almost 9 out of 10 people killed in Karachi are sunnis.
He was a poet, a writer, a speaker, a teacher. His same verse in one of his writing says:
"Mein chala hoon Ali (a.s) se mulakaqat ko, jis ki thi arzoo wo ghari agai"
Indeed.
The vacuum his absence will create is huge for us. He will be missed in every gathering, around the world. Nonetheless, he, definitely, is at a better place now. May Allah forgive him. Ameen
Another massive loss
he was a great gentleman
Haal-e-Gham Sunayenge Jab ... Zakhm-e-Dil Dikhayenge Jab ....
This madness of killing has to stop
Another shia gunned down! Pakistan is becoming a graveyard for shiaas n other non-muslims and wrong-muslims. No light at the end of the tunnel. Huh!