Due time for justice

One can only hope that Sabri’s case does not become lost or muddled amidst the myriad of other accusations leveled

Last year, Pakistan lost one of its most distinct voices, Amjad Sabri. Sabri was the victim of targeted killing. He was on his way to a Ramazan evening show when assailants fired at his vehicle, critically injuring him. He was then taken to Abbasi Shaheed hospital immediately, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Pakistan’s national icon, a cultural ambassador, Sabri was a famous qawwal whose voice still resonates in the hearts of many Pakistanis and who mesmerised many by his powerhouse personality. He was only 40 years old at the time of his ruthless murder.

Over a year after this tragedy took place, his murder case is finally being sent to a military court for trial, along with two dozen other cases against two suspected militants of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) to military courts.

The LeJ suspects, Ishaq alias Bobby and Mohammad Asim alias Capri, were arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Department of the police in November 2016 for their alleged involvement in around 25 cases pertaining to the targeted killing of Amjad Sabri, army personnel, the Rangers, police officials and members of the Shia community.

Though the case should have been referred to a military court at a much earlier date for a more meaningful outcome, justice can only be served now when the aggressors and all other masterminds behind this reprehensible act are punished for a crime that occurred in broad daylight.

One can only hope that Sabri’s case does not become lost or muddled amidst the myriad of other accusations levelled against these two villainous suspects. If such a high-profile and celebrated figure’s death cannot stir us to action, murderers will get away with homicide. If the lack of castigation for an assassination becomes the norm, targeted killing will become even more rampant. The conclusion of Sabri’s murder case is within our grasp; let it not recede back into cold storage.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2017.

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