The dead are my brothers and sisters and we can call them ‘shaheed’ for they gave their lives to this country.
KARACHI: It was disconcerting enough to hear about the attacks in Karachi on Pakistan Navy buses carrying naval officers, but to see the tragedy firsthand, near the PAF Museum, while driving my two children to school, was downright horrible. The first few hours in office were spent trying to contact my ex-colleagues and course mates, some of whom did not respond and perhaps never will.
The Navy puts in a huge amount of time, money and effort in training its officers and sailors, who in turn commit themselves completely to the service of their country. Their loss is not just a loss of life, a loved one or a friend, it’s a loss of people committed to the state of Pakistan.
As I read various perspectives on this news, I am already aware of the fact that the investigation leading to its cause will remain inconclusive, at least for the bereaved families and general public. The ‘honourable’ interior minister and other ‘extremely competent’ government officials will continue to give all kinds of statements. Our intelligence agencies will try and do all they can to prevent another attack, but an attack is likely to happen again at some point in time.
The dead are my brothers and sisters and we can call them ‘shaheed’ for they gave their lives to this country. For the rest of us life goes on.
Syed Ahsan Razvi
Ex-naval officer
Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2011.
