LONDON:
Three British-Pakistanis died Wednesday after being hit by a car during riots in the central English city of Birmingham as they were trying to protect their community from looters.
The three have been identified as Haroon Jahan, Shehzad Hussain and Mussavir Ali. Mussavir and Shehzad were brothers, and hailed from Gujjar Khan. Police said they had arrested a man and launched a murder inquiry after the incident which happened at around 1:00 am as Britain’s second largest city suffered from another night of riots.
Paramedics said they found around 80 people at the scene after the victims were hit by the car. Two of the men were pronounced dead on the spot and the third died later in hospital.
Witnesses and family members said the three were part of a group protecting the area from looters after locals had left a mosque.
“People came out of prayers and they were protecting the area. My friends were targeted - they were standing on the side of the road and the car just came and ran them over,” witness Kabir Khan Isakhel said.
Another witness said the incident happened after a car was set ablaze in a nearby street and youths gathered, prompting local people to defend a local shopping area.
“They lost their lives for other people, doing the job of the police,” Mohammed Shakiel said outside the hospital where the men were taken, prompting around 200 people to gather in support. “They were protecting the community as a whole.”
Several cars drove past the group as it was guarding the stores and the occupants shouted abuse before one vehicle returned and mounted the pavement at “tremendous speed” and hit the men, throwing them into the air, Shakiel said.
Tariq Jahan, father of Haroon, told the BBC: “I’ve got no words to describe what, why he was taken and why this has happened.”
“He was a very good lad, starting at the beginning of his life. He had his whole life ahead of him. It makes no sense why people are behaving like this and taking the lives of three innocent people.” Police said a 32-year-old man was being held on suspicion of murder. It said the victims were aged 20, 30 and 31.
“West Midlands Police have launched a murder enquiry, arrested one man in connection with the incident and recovered a vehicle nearby which will be examined by forensics experts,” a police statement said.Guardian newspaper quoted a group of British Asian men as saying they had seen the fatal incident, which was over in seconds but saw the victims flung into the air as a black Audi rammed into them. One, who declined to give his name, said: “Of course it was deliberate. No way was it an accident. The driver went on to the pavement and rammed them. He knew what he was doing.”
He said that four carloads of young African-Caribbeans had cruised down Dudley Road and there had been no doubt about what they were planning. He said that he had given evidence to the police.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron said a “fightback” had begun Wednesday against Britain’s worst riots in a generation, as he authorised the use of water cannon for the first time outside Northern Ireland. “We needed a fightback and a fightback is underway,” Cameron told a news conference outside 10 Downing Street after meeting top security officials following a fourth night of lawlessness and arson.
Cameron said he would “not allow a culture of fear to exist on our streets”.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2011.
COMMENTS (95)
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thier wealth has created quite a nuisance in Pakistan regarding the qabza groups and land mafias.....
It is interesting to note that some Pakistanis with British passports wish to be considered British. Although I have sympathy for their wishes I would suggest that Pakistanis will not be fully integrated, in Britain, for some little time yet, and it does not take a great stretch of imagination to understand that British Pakistanis will be considered to be Pakistanis in Pakistan. I am English and have lived in Australia, with an Australian passport, for 60 years, However, due to a British accent I am considered to be English, and I will never be fully integrated. My children are, but it does not bother me that I am considered to be different Pakistanis will have different problems. They have a darker complexion, and a very distinctive (albeit pleasant sounding) accent. I would suggest that Pakistanis be proud of their cultural inheritance, and just accept that they have different, and distinctive differences which some white people would do well to emulate.
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: why dont you go back to worrying about security situation in New Delhi.if you had even a small brain you would know that in Major Cities of england the Police was no where to be seen for 4 days
You don't want to escalate a situation. The talk of race, and the direct attack of a certain race only causes more argument and creates another situation entirley. We dont want to spread the violence, we can only hope to resolve the situation at hand. Right now, there should be a focus on the rioting, and the government should communicate with the rioters. They are "not" terrorists. We can negotiate if they are citizens.
Rahman Malik should be rushed to London to identify 'foreign elements'!
@sam: just come here and see how people are killed everyday..!!! I am sure you won't be able to see the rivers of blood!! then you will also be called as BLIND..!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Patrik: Yeah!! I believe so,local Political Parties,no doubt,are fighting among themselves,but,somewhere there are these foreigners who are just getting benefit and intentionally doing their jobs,thats Destroying Peace..!!! May be we Are not able to develop the peace in our country,whatever the reason is,but England is the very Powerful state,as the officials say,why then they couldn't control the situation???the fire accelerated there for 5 days...!!!
@Majid: If your little brother would be the target of that Raymond Davis that day,you might have gone mad..yeah it was a conspiracy...but planned by enemy of Pakistani peace and that relates with foreign.I must say,People are not taking the Pakistani current affairs seriously.
David Cameron should resign and the UK Army should take full control of the Parliament
@Abdullah: In reply David Cameron will ask the Govt. of Pakistan, how well you have protected your citizens within your country?
@Pakistani: I would be more concerned about the state of Karachi at present and rest of Pakistan too !! In comparision to Pakistan, this is like boys fight in school playground, rest assure!! These mobs are nothing more than criminal gangs who was to cause damage and loot the premises of goods, while in Pakistan it seems the ultimate aim is to go to Paradise!!!! So there is big difference between the two!! PNS Mehran does not happen in UK, rest assure!!! We are more than capable of dealing with these thugs and looters!!
I am seriously concerned about the safety of Nuclear Devices in Great Britain. The terrorists have shown how they can destroy a city like London in a few hours. If the nukes get into their hands they could wreck havoc. UK needs to DO MORE for the safety of its nukes and assure Muslims in general and Pakistan in Particular that its nukes are in safe hands and it has a proper command & control system in place....!!!!
Fall of Capitalism has started, After every Afghan war one system goes down
This is nothing more than common criminality, and rest assure that these people are being dealt with, the courts are sitting overnight to deal with the caseloads and majority are being remanded for sentencing at the crown court.
that was really a criminal act by efu caribean society for pakistanis. so they have take action against them..........
Obviously the deaths matter regardless of their origin. But, anyone knocking what they were doing in the street due to incompetence of law enforcement and government aren't doing the men any justice. They were of mature enough age to make their own decisions and recognize what they were getting themselves into. They weren't forced and they had other options but, they wanted to directly take their fate and that of their family's into their own hands rather than riding the unpredictable waves of the riot. It's respectable and it's tragic. But, there's nobody deserving blame in any of it beyond the one who did the killing as they consciously inserted themselves into the situation. That's not an excuse for any side. Nor is it an excuse to belittle or exaggerate parts. It's saying to look at the situation as it truly is/was. The views are still valid and it's a little bit insulting to the dead to twist the details of the situation to fit your biased self-importance while taking the attention away from their motives which I'm quite sure they were proud of and would like to be remembered for. Not part of your blame games.
Oh gosh, they corrected the article headline and the content itself. Wow. :)
It may be a deliberate attempt to instigate Pakistani community. British government and administration is a complete failure in controlling the situation
@John: Should have thought of that before all that empire-building no?
wow wha a country , if any Pakistani dies abroa in riots etc . There will always be a rally protests in pakistan for it . But WHEN IN PAKSITAN THEY ARE PEOPLE GETTING KILLED .O ONE TAKES NOTICE OF THAT UNTIL & UNLESS HE IS SOMEBODY BIG IN A POLITICAL PARTY
FOOD FOR THOUGHT WHAT ARE WE DOING
Just Yesterday my Messengers brother was stopped & checked & then SHOT in Public for Being urdu speaking
this is called being a Pakistani ??????
The incidence of your compatriots death is extremely sad and deplorable and your feeling of anger against the British rioters are natural. . This may help some of you to understand the feeling of the rest of the world when a terror is linked to Pakistan.
@Noman Ansari: I totally agree with your comments. They are citizens of UK but of Pakistani origin. The father of these kids is a British national whom all saw on TV the ascent in which he was speaking in English with the media persons. We here in media houses are not properly and honestly reporting which is very shameful. What ever is taking place in UK is purely a Criminal Act. Those who killed these kids are now behind the bars. British Police is quite capable to investigate the whole issue on scientific basis. Justice will surely prevail. They are not like us " No Money No Water " in the case of Raymond Davis.
The British are sick of immigrants. They want to get rid of the Asian immigrants (Indians and Pakistanis).
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: Yes people are paying tax which covers civil services but you forget thay many immigrants in the UK live on social assistance which is state khayrat / dole. They don;t pay taxes. As for the citizens paying taxes, it sems the police in the UK are overwhelmed with the number of looters and criminals. This is why the people there have to take the law into their own hands. Have you not seen how the people there have been screaming at the corrupt politicians in the UK who are saying all kinds of things but doing nothing.
Abdullah "Pakistan govt. should strictly ask DAVID CAMERON to provide security to Pakistanis. Just imagine if 3 britishers were killed somewhere in Pakistan, what would have been the reaction of David Camero" What a joke buddy? You forgot Raymond davis & drones? They are bumping off pakistanis in our own country, day in day out & you talk of british paki's. When france banned burqa's many of us howled! But what happened? How many pakistani's came back? None. Be realistic brother! No one, our govt or army cares about us!
@T
But there is a difference between 1 attack and 7500 attacks leading to 40,000 deaths at the hands of the states very own 'strategic assets'
In the West a person's religion does not define them. People go about their daily lives with no interest in knowing the religion of those that they interact with. As such, Pakistani's in Britain holding British passports are British of Pakistani background. Their religion is of no consequence and is not worth mentioning! The tragic events leading to the death of the three individuals had nothing to do with their religion. These individuals where protecting property. It is very sad that people lose their lives to protect property - no property has the value of a human life!
@Khurram Awan: In order to understand the reasons for this anarchy in Britain read comments in yeasterday's and today's articles in the opinion section of The Australian newspaper. They are excellent. Please follow the url www.theaustralian.com.au. These articles are written by two British commentators and are critcal of what is happening in their society.
@zuha Dear zuha, I do not wish to offend you but do yu seriously believe that targeted killings going on in Karachi are the work of Indians,Israelis an Americans? If you do, I am afraid that lunatics have taken over the asylum in your case,
Patrick
@ pardesi there's something called pride and sacrificing yourself for principle if they died as upright Muslims and citizens of whatever country they belong to then it is an honorable death.
Shahadat aur woh bhi Ramzan main. Allah o Akbar
@zahu ... please get realist, i feel pity for people like you who just blindly follow conspiracy theorist like Zaid Hamid etc.
@moderator ... please change the title of this news, It should be Three British killed not Pakistanis, or you can use term "British Pakistanis".
It a shame that tribune being such a big online news service provider has not a proper content writer, please fix it :)
Pakistan government should issue a travel advisory to all Pakistanis traveling to England.
I have been following this story in the American and Canadian media, but the sad thing is that no one here is mentioning the religion or nationality of these brothers that have died as a result of the riots. They are too scared that Muslims will be portrayed as heroes.
Also, the boy that got robbed (you have probably seen the video on youtube) was a Muslim student from Malaysia. He now needs surgery to fix his broken jaw. Again, western media does not say his background.
time to kick england Govt. ..khuda ka wasta FOREIGN MINISTRY DO SOMETHING>>>>>>
After all this, i am really concerned about the safety of nuclear weapons in UK. What if, these hooligans got hold of such weapons during this turmoil? UK government should do more to get rid of these extremist elements.
@faraz: most of the terrorist acts are individuals but there is no justification ...
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui:
If you were in the country you wouldn't have said whatever you just said. Where were the police when businesses in London were being looted? Those men thought it their duty to protect their community, which is why they went out and stood guard and I pray that their families can find patience and sabr.
May Allah rest the souls of these three great and brave boys in peace.Hats off to them.What remains to be seen is the justice brought upon to the aggrieved families by this so-called JUST N FAIR society(that i am sure would never be given).
@Grace: The same could be said about other cities throughout UK. Birmingham is a large and vibrant city with a diverse population which includes affluent areas and a significant number of parks, waterways, shopping complexes,.historical buildings and multinational companies. One should be careful in applying a generalisation without knowing the true demographics of the 'second city'.
Why would people build their churches in the Midlands or elsewhere for that matter?
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui They were not 'standing' on the road. They were part of cordon of many others who were protecting their and other people's businesses and were mown down on the pavement, where they were standing. The car involved mounted the kerb at considerable speed and hit the hapless victims with full force sending them flying onto the road. The police has failed to protect the lives and properties of it's citizens, which is why people have taken it into their own hands. I see a bigger picture to these riots, which might explain why the Government has been a silent spectator to the events of the past few days.
@Brum boy Agreed. Yes, the father spoke in a calm, rational and dignified manner without pointing fingers at anyone. It's going to be very hard to cope with his son's loss after the dust settles.
Its a Sad Moment but we have to Face it. Hina Rabbani Khar have to go their and get all real Information from the locals, or somebody else to go their and Protect Other Pakistanis also. President and Prime Minister have to Take Action on this Issue to save other Lives. But Quickly ...
Since the rioters were mostly Blacks, will the Ummah declare Jihad on them? What is the stand of Mr Zaid Hamid on this?
There was no need for the British-Pakistanis to stand on the road during the UK riots, as it was the responsibility of the Police and not of the British citizens.
When people pay tax, it is the duty of the government to protect the lives and properties of its citizens and if the government does not protect the lives and properties than it should not remain in the office.
I am grieved on the untimely deaths of British-Pakistani and have sympathy with all those people whose businesses and property have been looted and burnt due to none of their faults.
May Al-Mighty God rest their souls in peace and give courage to the bereaved families. Amen.
We learn a lesson from such a tragic incident........that one should nevvvver encounter such a mad and angry mob and at once go aside or in hiding instead of playing Maula Jatt to protect the property.....We always keep on forgetting that every single Life is ANMOL and we all have the right to die a very serene natural death.
White terr0rists screening these days on world stage. :-P First it was norway now london what next perhaps america. Kp fingers crossed!
The british government didnt ask the driver to kill the 3 pakistanis. Its an individual act, and its the responsibility of the state to punish the culprits.
They do say that three Pakistani men were killed by a police car. I guess we will have to wait for the real truth to come out.
The very image of Birmingham makes me think of violence; ghettos and unemployment. Why would these people build their mosque in the Midlands?
The people who died were martyrs in the month of Ramazan.lets hope the families can take comfort in that fact.
@Abdullah good point we have to comment on this news their are plenty of other forums and blogs for debating.
We should learn from people like these. Responsible and dedicated to the place they call home. I wish everyone has the courage to protect his/her country. Hats off to them and all the people who are helping in any way. Its always to see the comments going to a completely different topic. Learn something good from each and every news you get instead of fighting and debating for no reason.
@Tight Dhoti You are tight on using brain too!
Why is Raymond davis incident considered conspiracy 'theory' amongst some of you?
Zuha is correct, it was blatantly obvious that foriegn powers are creating instability in Pakistan sending mercenary private security firms like blackwater and people like Raymond Davis to murder people. Albiet I admit it has little to do with the topic at hand above, but I won't accept people trying to wipe this away in the history books as just another isloated incident, when we have a real problem in Pakistan of secret forces at work causing mischief there.
@TightDhoti: not linking to Raymond Davis or any other thing.I am just giving an example that what happened on that issue..
@zuha: Are you a rank holder among conspiracy theorists?
This is so sad. May their killers be caught and justice be done according to the law. What non sense these riots going on, looters, loosers
Most of British Pakistani Origin Muslims have dual nationality so we can't say that they are not Pakistani's. It's not place of politics just do dua for these people.
British Govt is Responsible the death of three innocent Pakistani people..
This is nothing new for the UK which is synonymous with ethnic ghettos, race riots, and state welfare / khayrat for unemployed citizens. This has been happening to foreigners in the UK for decades now.
London has turned into Karachi! The only things missing are some burning tires.
@ Ali R
a damaged masjid can be re-built. can a dead person be brought back to life. how much money will u donate to their family?
@Patrick:Assalam u alaikum.firstly,we don't declare falsely that we do a lot of care about human rights!!! secondly,these killers who are taking lives in Pakistan are INDIANS,AMERICANS,ISRAELS,BRITIANS,and some NATO AGENTS!!! which are just going to their intentions by means of our sold government..!!! not to talk about that..!! Pakistani is if in any other state he is called Pakistani.have all the emotions that a clear PAKISTANI heart possesses..
You will note that the "bad guy" was arrested ---- something that doesn't seem to happen to often in Pakistan.
What a poor headline! There is no suggestion that they are Pakistanis. The father of the victim is talking to the media and is saying how his children grew up in the UK. This pointless sensationalism only helps people like @zuha who want to link this to Raymond Davis and conspiracies.
This is an intractable situation going on in London..I'm just agreed with what Mr.Abdullah has said.What happened when we only arrested Raymond Davis!! while talking about Britishers,if only a British man come to Pakistan and we kill him...then? Obviously,Pakistan will have to pay for it..!! but now,3 PAKISTANIS HAVE BEEN ASSASSINATED THERE..we should protest on this matter!! they have just attacked on Pakistan indirectly!! but ALAS! they are failed to protect their own citizen,their police killed him,and they talk about human rights..not a big topic for them to kill Pakistanis,untill or unless our government do something..
@Noman Ansari: The Blacks in our country refer to themselves as African-Americans, and most Hispanics prefer to be called Latinos, even though they're Americans. They have a right to be proud of their origins, but sometimes I wonder if this self-labeling doesn't encourage the exact thing you're describing.
Pakistanis are always there to be the first to offer the sacrifices for these ungrateful goras.
@Abdullah: These were BRITISH citizens who happened to be of pakistani ethnic origin. They are not pakistani government's responsibility!. And to be sure, the suspect has been arrested and proper British legal process will be applied and if guilty will be sentenced as per UK law.
How many killers of innocent pakistani citizens in Karachi(over 100 in last few weeks alone!), Lahore etc have been brought to justice in Pakistan ?. Put your own house in order before you start point scoring ...
A sad news three Muslims martyred in month of Ramazan to protect other muslims. I don't understand agenda behind these riots. Yesterday i have seen people gather for just one thing in mind that they are going to loot rich people. Every one portrait himself as "Robin Hood". About 2,000 people gathered in Manchester City Center. Police took precautionary measures before hand. People shut offices and businesses. But when riot kicks off police was just like spectator. They did nothing. If Police played his role properly then these lives can be saved. May Allah shower his blessings on these innocent souls. Amin
I think it is the time to announce Karachi and London as twin cities in the world, as the most common things between the two cities are the riots, looting, arson, target killing etc. etc.
@ Noman Ansari: absolutely agree with you. These men should not be referred to as Pakistanis. The rioters are all British too.
@ Gul Khan
Mirza will somehow involve Pakistani Establishment in it....This guy Mirza seriously needs to see a psychiatrist!!
C'mon Noman, your ethnicity does change just like that. Color of the skin wont change even if you put yourself in IFB washing machine. Yeah, it hurts when militants of pakiatani origin are involved & people call us Militant Paki's but that's ok. We too call them names, right! Check youtube british paki & you'll know.
& whatever you do, evven if you are a citizen, they say British citizen pf pakistani origin! Didn't we say the same to george fulton!
Coming back to the article RIP to the slain! May god give their families strength to face the terrible loss!
A Brother said "the rioters stood outside LMC/East London Mosque opposite Whitechapel Road and were ready to attack loot and throw missiles at the Mosque. It was near Iftar time. Hungry Muslims, ready to break their fast ready to defend recieved power from Allah. One man screamed Takbeer, over a hundred men charged at the rioters. They fled in fear. That is the Muslim spirit that lives on. The police did nothing. The media won't report this."
What is terrible is that these boys were originally thought to be part of a gang of looters. Hence proving how biased and skeptical the western media is of us Pakistanis. Just absolutely disgusting!
Just like the Sikhs in Birmingham, I think more vigilantism is required to protect us from these racist hooligans trying to loot from Asian business owners. We need more of our people out on the streets protecting our property as the police are doing nothing.
@Sanaullah: Answer because so many new faces here lack civilisation and decency. Things were just fine before mass immigration.
@Noman I think Pakistanis or any other race holding a British Passport can be called BRITISH not English as English is a race same as Welsh, Scotts, etc. A foreigner holding a Pakistani passport will be a Pakistani but not a Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi, Pushton, or Mohajir.
Pakistan govt. should strictly ask DAVID CAMERON to provide security to Pakistanis. Just imagine if 3 britishers were killed somewhere in Pakistan, what would have been the reaction of David Cameron ?
@Noman Ansari: Excellent point and totally agree with you. Very sad incident. May Allah give these brave souls a high place in jannah. Ameen.
masha'Allah
They died in Ramadan while protecting people from looting.
Shaheed death in protecting the masjid and community...outstanding Muslims and true Pakistanis.
I think whatever happens, British men of Pakistani origin should always be refereed to as Britishers (of Asian origin at best). I say this because the foreign media often loves to portray Britishers of Pakistani origin as mainly Pakistani, whenever they are involved in something negative. Fact is that they are English nationals, and are English.
I know this situation is different, but I hope our media can follow this rule of thumb on any piece of news, positive of negative.
I just hate it when suicide bombers caught in Europe, who are foreign nationals, are said to be Pakistanis, when they are not. Are black Americans called Africans? Are Americans of Hispanic origin called anything other than Americans?
No.
Everyone should keep in mind, that words are a weapon, and language can give a writer's mindset away. If journalists from our own part of the world start calling these Britishers of Pakistani origin what they are, then perhaps their own media will follow suit.
Remember, next time Pakistan plays a cricket match in England, and Pakistani fans that happen to be British nationals invade the pitch, they are not Pakistanis... they are English.
Waiting for Mirza's comments on this news.
Sad, very sad................................
Seeing riots in UK few questions cross my mind. Where is that much touted civilized, cultured world of the Europe? Why the centuries old democracy has not instilled its values in these riots loving people?
When will this madness end?