A 22-year-old man was shot dead on MT Khan Road off Mai Kolachi early Sunday morning in what was initially interpreted as a possible mobile snatching.
According to victim Zaran Ghazali’s father Ghulam Rasool, his son was travelling in his Toyota Corrolla car at 12:30 am on Sunday with a friend Sumera when two men on a motorcycle intercepted them near Bahria school.
The two were returning home after having dinner at the newly inaugrated Port Grand near Native Jetty bridge. Sumera told Zaran’s father that when they spotted the suspected robbers, Zaran tried to speed away. However, the suspects opened fire and a bullet hit Zaran in the back, which proved fatal.
His body was taken to Jinnah hospital, where medico-legal formalities were completed. Sumera had informed Ghulam Rasool about the death of his son from the hospital.
Zaran was training to be a pilot at the PIA’s Benazir Academy. His father is a businessman, who engaged with textile mills.
A case was registered at the Jackson police station. Duty Officer Zahid Khan said the investigation was still in the preliminary stages. However, he said that since no objects were missing from the victim’s car, it didn’t appear to be a robbery. Even Zaran’s father said that none of his son’s possessions were missing.
Investigation Officer Mumtaz Hussain also said he didn’t believe that this was a car snatching or an attempted robbery. “The average car speed on Mai Kolachi road is 70kms/hr. No criminal tries to stop a car like that,” he said, adding that for the last one and a half months, the only cases that have been lodged from Mai Kolachi Road were road accidents.
Hussain said that there was the possibility of a personal enmity. He said, however, that investigations were being hindered because no one from the victim’s family was coming forward to help. “The family has requested three days as they are in mourning, while Sumera’s telephone number is switched off and we still don’t know where she is,” he said.
Police said that the family didn’t even want to register the FIR and it was done only after his father made a statement at the hospital.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 19th, 2011.
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I DONT KNOW THIS BOY ... BUT As a pakistani feel like i have some relationship with him ...I just read this news and been so upset. May Allah give peace to his soul. Living away from PAKISTAN and working hard to get the degree so I can go Home ?? But some time I think which home ... The one waiting with bullets, corruption , terrorism ..???? Its been so disappointed .. where are these goverment ppl ? what are they doing ... what if he was one of their son then still they react same ????
Dont know what happened to PAKISTAN... WHAT WILL BE NEXT ?
We need to stand up and do something.
i have no word..... i miss u....4 ever----
Saddest news ever! Its been a week now to this tragic event that brought great sorrow to people who knew Zaran personally or through his family or friends.I felt pain like it has happened to my own brother.I didn't know zaran personally but i know his elder brother who is a gentleman and i can imagine what the family will be going through. There is nothing anyone can do to ease the family's loss. May his soul rest in peace and May God punish the criminals and give them the worst death possible.....Ameen.
Innalillahe-Wa-Inna Alaihe Rajeoon. May Almighty God bless his soul and grant his loved ones peace, patience and strength to bear this loss. Ameen.
Bhai iske pass no enemies he is my cousin.. plus there is no person named sumera wth? my chacha is his father this report is false the fact is that he was driving with no sumera and has no enemies.
I knew Zaran Personally. He was such a nice guy! A champion in its self. His aim was to be a Pilot, he was such a sporty guy, a badmintion champion at national level. I use to play badmintion with him!! Its a big loss for the society :( . May Allah bless his soul.
Although i never met him in my life but he was very close to our family. My cousins knew him very well as they use to study together in st. Michael. I guess i don't have much to say but thinking about how the incident happened is just too mouth-watering and reading the comments are even worsen my emotions. I really want to know what actual happened, because after reading all of the comments, this thing is for sure that there were no personal grudges or enmity involved, as he was too jolly, friendly with everyone, secondly where is his friend Sumaira, why is her cell switched off? arising a lot of questions in my mind. I hope someone clears the situation because even my cousins were like we are not yet sure what really happened.
May the departed soul be rest in peace and may Allah give courage to his family & friends to bear an irreparable loss. Ameen
I just remember the first time that i met Zaran, he walked into our As psychology class and sat right next to me...he had this amused smile on his face and the first thing he ever asked me was whether I liked spongebob squarepants...it made me laugh, and from that moment on he was my friend. He was so good looking and charmingly unaware of it as girls all over the school swooned over him. I distinctly remember me and another friend teasing him by saying, 'Zaran you're so pretty, can we do makeup on your face?" and being the unpretentious sweetheart that he was, he even let us clown around his face with eye-shades...the couple of times he came over my place, i remember them clearly cuz they were just so awesome and crazy, like us making videos of him jumping on my bed playing air-guitar or him trying to get my cat high on sheesha fumes, laughing like a maniac...sitting on a school bench and singing Lukas Rossi songs loudly, enough to drive as all crazy...Dj-ing with me on the music stall at our halloween bakesale...and messing around the media equipment while i was setting up a music society program... after he had finished helping me re-arrange the furniture and round up the students.. The last time i met Zaran was at the sunset club...he was jogging and i joined him on the track. talking to him, i did not even notice that I had finished the course twice, because I was too busy laughing at what he was saying. What happened to my friend was brutal, unnecessary and completely unfair. He deserved a full life...a whole lifetime of being with people he loved, loving life, making us laugh...he was gonna be a pilot... he wanted to go to a real American high-school...he wanted us to call him "Sean".... Zaran was one of the best people i ever had the fortune to meet. I hate writing this...something so final...something that feels like an epitaph...Zaran, I hope you fulfill your dreams of flying...fly above us my friend...we'll pray for your soul.
Just adds value to the fact that we have become a nation of Barbarians....heartless, senseless Barbarians. You simply cannot attribute such acts to a Grand scheme to tarnish the nation by external forces such as America, India, Israel nor can it be caused by any terrorist organization. It is an internal and an inborn streak of aggression that has crept into the heart of the society. We are slowly and steadily heading towards the abyss.
He smiled. That’s what Zaran Ghazali did. He always just smiled. He lived life the way it should be lived. And loved people just as passionately. The investigation officer of his case is making statements that there was personal enmity. I think he has gotten his facts wrong. Regardless of whats proved, Sean was kind, helpful and always there for whoever needed him. He was fun and knew how to make others around him, have a good time too. Zaran had a gift, that very few have, which was forgiveness. He never held grudges. He would never give you a chance to apologize. He would just forgive and forget. Two days before he died, he told me he would fly Laila and me to a place away from Karachi, away from everyone, as soon as he got his license. He was going to be a pilot. Zaran always remembered facts we usually don’t pay attention too. He would always talk about a ‘pigeon’s navigation system’ and how it always made him curious. Zaran was happy. And he wanted everyone around him to be too. He was great at badminton. I remember our lessons where he actually convinced me for a few days that I could do sports. He always just wanted to share. Share what he knew and share what he had. Sean wasn’t just a selfless human being, whose aim was to make you laugh; he was also a great friend who just wasn’t capable of hurting another with his words or actions. No matter what is said or done, I will always remember you as the person who made me want to be better. You aren’t here no more, but what you have triggered in us by dying, is what will keep you alive. You will be missed forever.
What a loss, i came 2 know Zaran & his family as my customers (Brands4Less Zamzama) when i opened up my test shop in a bungalow in Phase4 DHA near Sunset club 4 years ago where this family was active in all kind of sports, his elder brother is my Gym buddy & his younger sister is a master swimmer & a frequent customer of my shop along with his humble mum & dad. What a tragic end to such a fine & promising young guy, his family & friends loved him for for his passion of sports & flying.
This is what has become of us, this is where we are heading in a spiral of death & choas. Allah please forgive us & make us united & prosperous. Pakistan is a great country & so r its citizens, v must bounce back from this rock bottom, WE MUST!!!
The very same thing happened with my friends family ( i mean attempted robbery) on the very same route (Returning from port grand)... but they were able to escape the robbers! Luks like the pattern of crime. May his roul rest in peace!
I am SO SO saddened by this, he was a class mate of my daughter and like a son to me. I dont know what is happening to my beautiful counry. the Pakistan I grew up in is not this chaotic, lawless place where a Cell phone is worth more than the life of a young man who was the future.. may sincere and heartfelt condolence to the family. no words can express what I and all who knew Zanran are feeling.. I can not even begin to understand your terrible loss..May Allah give you strenght and courage to bear your loss
I knew Zaran in school. I had lost touch with him after that, so it was a shock to read this after all these years and look at the picture, and realize he's gone. I see from the above comments that he was superb in badmington (he was brilliant in cricket too), but more than anything else, he was a really sweet and pleasant person, always cheerful and decent to everyone. May Allah Bless his soul, and may he find peace now Amen.
At a loss for words at this tragic incident. May Allah grant his family the strength to bear the huge loss and grant the departed soul a place in Jannah, Ameen.
@ Ahmed. Thank you so much. I just came back from his place and I cant really narrate the scene at his house no point in telling I know all of you can just use your imagination. An irreparable loss thats all I can say. May Allah give him a high place in Jannah Ameen.
Another valuable asset of our country lost, a pilot to be, just like that.
so tragic may God rest his soul in eternal peace and give to his parents.
Very bad. May God rest his soul in peace and give patience to his parents and family.
he could have been the future of pakistan in badminton maybe, he recently won the sunset club championship and god knows how many, all he was doing was trying to do good for his country the whole time as an athlete, a citizen by becoming a pilot etc but i guess the criminals and govt and all dont care about tht, he was a great guy, i hardly knew him but when we met he was alwayz kind to me and enemies of such a guy is nearly impossible so it would be really surprising if the police would call it a personal enmity, its just so shocking i mean i saw the guy in club before he died on that very day and in the morning i get the news hes dead, i was like wth! really shocking..
Your words won't make a difference; the ppl who do this can't read ! and/or are probably busy finding their next victim !!
RIP.
What a sad sad thing to happen to anyone let alone a young kid like that ....im just speechless at the level of degradation of society in Pakistan ...sighhhh
Oh Allah, the first news I read today has taken me back.Can't stop my tears from rolling down.Plz Allah give us some relief from this chaos we have engulfed our lives in.The moment I saw this young guy's pic something hit me hard inside.Me and my friend used to go to Sunset club nearly everyday in 2008 after our work.
We so wanted to start playing Badminton cuz we wanted some sort of exercise, and when we started the first day watching this guy and his family and friends play, we were mesmerized at how good he was and how ready he was to teach us.I had seen him play quite a few times before, many yrs bk when he and I were both kids.He probably doesn't even know this but this kid said such a sweet thing to me and my friend when we wud just wanna give up playing cuz we were so pathetic at it and we thought we have outgrown the age to learn.He said " U can play exactly or even better than I do , if u just stop worrying abt what ppl in around wud say and have faith in ur heart at what u do .And whenever u do it do the right thing, as best as u can" Gosh I had forgotten ur name dude but ur words have always lingered in my mind and when I tell my friend this news she wud be as broken as I am right now.
May Allah rest ur soul in peace and give u a much much better life up above.And May Allah give patience to ur wonderful parents and family n friends
From and long time admirer
@Danial Anwar: And who do you suppose will look at the footage from the cameras? The Police? You must be kidding me. This requires more than just CCTV footage man... This is an incredibly tragic incident, and one amongst HUNDREDS that probably occur daily in our city. My heart goes out to the families and friends involved in this ordeal. It is yet another wake up call to the citizens and government of our lawless country to wake up and realize that protests and burning of vehicles and pouring out on the streets will not change anything. May his soul rest in peace. I hope this lawlessness can end.
I knew Zaran for more than 4 years now. He was a gem of a person. Have we all become animals? Is there no value for a human life? Hopefully Zaran is in a much much much better place. May Allah give his immediate family and everyone close to him the patience to bear this irreplaceable loss. ..it's truly unfortunate
Where are all our law firms. Countless lives are taken day to day, is there no value of a human life? Have we become animals? Zaran has affected us, but what about the others who we don't even hear about. When will we take action? When will this nation wake up. May Allah give his family the strength to bear this irreplaceable loss, and may his soul rest in peace. He is in our hearts forever.
Poor Soul :( Rest in peace!!!
This adds to another story that left me feeling absolutely helpless and depressed and I can not even begin to imagine the pain of his family and friends. What little I can do is pray that they find solace, pray that he finds peace with the Merciful Creator and for justice to prevail.
Rest in peace bro.
Tragic as all these stories usually are. This country has gone to hell.
How sad ....how many pearls are slipping from the fate of our nation....
May the departed soul rest in peace.
The question is, why are the law enforcing agencies RESTING IN PEACE!!!! What the hell are they up to?
On the day of judgement, those who are in authority shall be questioned first....Do they hell not know about this?
May God have mercy on this nation!!!
May ALLAH the almighty rest his soul in peace alongwith others innocents who die in the voilence of Karachi
Look at all those comments, people who knew this guy. What a loss! We all sure are nothing more than a number. I wonder how many are being put down now as I type this!
may his soul rest in peace amin
may Allah bless u zaran may his soul rest in peace Amin
May his soul rest in peace, & may ALLAH give peace to his family & loved ones, ameen!!
@Ali: I am sorry for your loss Ali.
This is a tragedy! May Allah give peace to the family. A Rs. 4 bullet, ended a life worth billions. Someone tell me where is the justice in that?? If our government had the time, or the will to halt this, they won't, because they are too busy keeping their government in power, rather than understand why they were actually placed there in the first place by us. A tragedy this is, beyond words. Find peace in the next world my friend, I don't think you were meant for the cruelty of this one.
@Junaid: The investigation officer should have better understood the facts before making a statement. The victim and his friend were heading towards Port Grand from Mai Kolachi. Since the roads were deserted on that night (probably due to the disturbance in Mauripur) they decided to head back and took the u-turn opposite Bahria Complex. To take this sharp u-turn the cars need to drastically slow down. Thus making this spot very vulnerable to theft at times when there is not much traffic. There have been other incidents of theft at this turn! It would be wise to install cameras at this point since many cars return at late night from the hotel and clubs in the vicinity.
This is really a moment of grief not only for his relatives and friends but for all those who read this news bit. Meanwhile, I just wonder that why the ET did not cover the deaths of those innocent Karachitis individually, who were killed in a cold blood after Zulfiqar Mirza's statement?
I knew Zaran since he was 2 years old literally he's played in my arms and I have seen him grow in front of my eyes. Really cant believe this lovely boy who wasnt like a brother to me but was my brother isnt amongst us anymore. He was not only a Badminton Champion of Sunset Club but a champion in every sport really talented. Be it squash, Karate, Tennis, Table Tennis. He has also represented Pakistan on International tours for Badminton. As far as i know he has no enmity with anyone a real sweet person. I really miss you boi kahan chala gaya tu meri jan.
Love you always
Hi, i knew him personally he was smart, sporty, junior badminton champion pakistan level and he played squash really well also with me. my kids loved him and to say he had personal enmity is unbelivable type of guy he was, very friendly respectful and sporty.
last time i met him at club was friday i taunted him why not playing squash and he said i loose weight therefore doind gym.
real irony to have lost such a great boy still cant belive this.
I appeal to the government, that incidents like these have become a daily routine in Karachi! Please do something to provide safety to the general public. I know many business families who are now planning to leave Karachi or even the country just to ensure the safety of their family. If things like cell-phone snatching, kidnappings or armed robberies are not controlled, I am afraid everyone who can positively contribute to this country will no longer stay here. And all that will be left of this city will be criminals and thugs.