Three Shia lawyers shot dead near Karachi City Court
SSP Naeem Sheikh said that four suspects on two motorcycles opened fired at the lawyers' car. He added that the incident was apparently one of sectarian violence as the lawyers belonged to the Shia sect. However, the police said that it can only be confirmed after the investigations whether the incident was sectarian in nature or not.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Sharmila Farooqi said the sectarian aspect of the killing cannot be ignored however declaring it target killing this early would be incorrect.
Express News reported that the victims, Badar Munir Jafri, Shakeel Jafri and Kafeel Jafri, were heading back to their homes from the court when their car was attacked by the killers.
SP Clifton said that the motorcyclists blocked the car and fired at it from the front. At least 15 holes were found in the car apparently of 9mm gunshots.
The incident left all the four victims injured, out of which three died on their way to the hospital. They all belonged to the same family.
The injured lawyer, Babar Ali is being treated at the Civil Hospital and is out of danger according to the doctors. Police is likely to record his statements tonight or tomorrow morning.
The police cordoned off the area and is carrying an investigation into the matter.
Investigation
Sindh High Court Chief Justice Mushir Alam took notice of the killings and asked IG Sindh Syed Mushtaq Shah and the lawyers’ representatives to appear in the court tomorrow.
While on the other hand, IG Sindh has constituted two teams to investigate the matter, which would be headed by SSP Sheikh. The teams would comprise of SSP Tariq Dharejo, SSP Niaz Ahmed Khosa and SSP Shahjahan Khan.
Sindh Home Minister Manzoor Wassan also responded to the incident and suspended station house officer (SHO) Arambagh.
Wassan, while speaking to Express News expressed solidarity with the lawyers’ community and asked them to stay calm.
Karachi Bar Association has given a strike call for Thursday, whereas Pakistan Bar Council has announced a countrywide protest.
Altaf Hussain expresses sorrow
Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief (MQM) Altaf Hussain expressed grief and sorrow over the killing, calling it a planned activity.
In a statement released from London, Hussain said that some elements were trying to disturb the peace of the city.
The MQM chief also requested religious leaders and general public to be patient.
At least six people have been killed in 24 hours in separate incidents of target killings. One Ahle Sunnat wal Jammat's legal adviser and a party activist were shot dead in the Old City area on Tuesday.
Correction: In an earlier version of this article, SSP Naeem Sheikh was erroneously referred to as SSP Tariq Dharejo. The correction has been made.
COMMENTS (98)
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@Err: The biggest minority of Jews live in Iran...can you beat that?? Isn’t it a great pity that you are crying for Iran Sunni separate mosques while Pakistani Shias are being killed for no reason. I don’t think so there is any target killings of Sunnis Iran. Why you are so biased?? I am sure Sunni might face discrimination but being killed on their basis of faith is not common there. But here in Pakistan if a Shia is killed by Sipa e sahaba terrorists (I am not blaming Sunnis- Shia considers barelvi Sunni as their brothers) and you are fail to condemn that? You are busy arguing about Sunni separate mosques in Iran and during that debate Sipa e shaba terrorists already killed two more shias on the basis of their faith...Brother, wake up ..Be united!! Spread unity- that’s what you can do by condemning the Shia genocide.
Why do we forget the fact that Pakistan was created on a resolution and an objective rather than inspiration from any country !!!!!! So for ever1 who compares saudi system or Irannian with pakistn it pathetic we are a free nnation not bounded to follow any1 And according to pakistni law every1 has right to live and practice their religion freely, So say no to sectarianism , The person get Sahadat was indeed shia but more He was a Muslim and Pakistan . . . . .They didnt served in pakis courts to get killed in the Name of Religiion , Very Sad mindset Who r in favour of Killers . . .
Moreover now v all should make it a slogan "" No Shia !!! No Sunni !!! Pakistani Pakistani . . . ""
@Realist Thats because they want Sunni and Shia to pray together
soon you may find shias and ahmedis are fleeing from pakistan and taking refuge in india (just like the hindus) ...and i m sure they will be better off here !!
@shadi:
You wanted evidence of anti-Sunni behaviour in Iran from an independent source? Well, here you go.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/31/iran-forbids-sunni-eid-prayers
In Pakitani media on finger tips three leading English papers are involved in spreading hate, the headlines like Shia killed is highly objectionable, either use in everycase Sunni killed or shia killed or only showing one sect Mazloom is engineered to create hate in the society.
Seems everyone is delusional here. The entire board is wrapped in a warped religious cloak. We live in a civilized society. It is not a sin that was committed, it was a murder which is against the law. God is not coming to help anyone, if no one is willing to help themselves. As I see it, there are two types of fundamentalists in Pakistan; those who are guided by an insane version of Islam to kill randomly and then those who are actively targeting the minorities in Pakistan. It is a shame that the government has given them the space to reposition themselves as humanitarian operations, but for the rest of the population to praise their good work and ignore their murderous ideology is criminal as well.
For the battle for Pakistan's soul, the battle lines are being drawn. There are those that want to turn us into Afghanistan, and they will force the other side to become an even more secular version of Turkey. You can guess which side Jinnah would have joined.
@islamidentity.com: Maybe we should never mention Shia and Sunni...ever...meanwhile as the murders keep happening in the background...shhhh...don't talk about Shia and Sunni..sweep it under the rug, forget about it...maybe that guy was killed because of something else. I don't want to know the truth about big scary extremist sectarian monsters that could be from my background, because I inexplicably invest some personal connection to such an ideology, even though I hypocritically tell everyone we're 'bhai-bhai'...
Thought one strong part of Islamic identity was truth. Since when did we sacrifice that for cognitive bias?
@FJ @mentelisco @BS.Detecter
FJ You stole the show .Any one who is ill informed about sunnis life in iran please read it.Thats what you call sincere effort to create unity.
It's very sad but what if some one else is doing the target killing just to evoke secretarian violence . We have agents of different countries rooming around . Have we thought of that ?
Lets hope this chain of events does not morph into the killing of doctors, as it did in the past.
I knew these people as they have been our neighbours for decade.Shia or Sunni,they were human beings and according to Quran n Sunnah,killing any human being is like killing the whole of the humanity.I knew them n I know all the family members.They were good people and all the neighbourhood is a witness to that.Even at majalis at their house,many Ahl-e-Sunnat people used to attend.It's a great loss for the family who lost their father,brothers n bread winners.Anybody killed,whether shia or sunni or from any so called sects,are humans,have the same colour of blood and feel the same pain.They are as much loved by their families as much as we love n need our family members,our loved ones.May their souls rest in peace n may Allah Pak give Sabar to the bereived families..Aameen..
@God Delusion What wonderfully put it this thing by Great Eastren Poet Allama M. Iqbal (R,A) that we succeded in the world only when we follows islam... think about it time has shown us this many times. (Hell is not joke may god save us)
chief justice of pakistan should take immediately action against the killers.
Shia? Why mention shia? Is this an attempt to provoke sectarian riots?
@God Delusion: I dont hate, I just like to correct fools. It's also known as critical thinking/post-modernism i.e. questioning both sides of the premise. I just pointed out the contradictions in your claims which obviously has hurt you personally, you are already doing a good job contradicting yourself and discrediting yourself through generic statements.
@faraz: You want to read nauseating?
Here's some harrowing comments. Though I'm sure you've come across the sentiment before.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/325903/dg-khans-shia-community-considers-testing-ballot-power/
@mentelisco:
And that's a big part of the problem in Pak and elsewhere. Just saying Shia or Sunni in the headline is 'inflammatory'. Why? Why sweep it under the rug? Where has that gotten us honestly? Let us admit there's serious intolerance, prejudiced and bigoted tension in Pakistani society, especially among the majority. People somehow take the labels in too personally and emotionally in religious sentiment, and because of collective guilt there's biased denial. It is time we examine it.
@Aqeel Ahmed:
ASWJ a charity organization?! Yea, as much as the Klu Klux Klan maybe...but I guess that excuse can fly considering how we lie about JuD to the world.
While the assassination of the ASWJ lawyer was deplorable and stupid, there's a big difference between an innocent Sunni and a Sunni supremacist whose member of a bigoted sectarian extremist organization that indulges in anti-minority extremism and terrorism.
Your attempt at painting the Shia lawyers as terrorist supporters was shallow prejudice. Chances are they were killed simply based on their background rather than any organizational link to the minority militant group (formed more as a vigilante reactionary group rather for any systemized cleansing agenda) that actually targeted their own lawyer.
Something akin to the Klu Klux Klan taking revenge at any 3 black guys to punish the Black Panthers, whether they had links or not. Both sides are not equal when it comes to discrimination and oppression....at least in Pak.
@Jeedo:
What are the chances that all 3 lawyers were left handed and killed by some anti-left handed terrorist organization?!
Their sect is mentioned because there's a PRECEDENT and it's RELEVANT in Pak news, their societal issues and criminal history and indeed the most likely MOTIVE, considering an ASWJ lawyer was killed yesterday.
@Err:
I can clearly see "hate" in your language used on this forum. People like you have given bad name to islam. your love for religion and hate for atheism clearly demonstrate your state of mind. :))
I simply said what i had to say. No-one can deny the contribution of medieval islamic civilizaion in scientic discoveries. In-fact the so-called enlightenment in Europe was actually started by arabian scholors.
But why most of the religious countries in modern days are backward in scientific achievement(includind saudi arabia and india+pak) because they did not follow their own ancestors and Europeans never looked back.
Start living in the present realities and work for the future. past will never come.
Future do not belong to organized religion. those who understand it, will progress.. learn from china.Go through Chinese websites. they never discuss religion.
Your god may bless you and you may wait for him. But i will work hard to achieve what i want from my life bcoz i know there is no-one except me who would decide my destiny.
And to those who are criticizing me for preaching atheism :- "Go to Hell" and i will meet you on the way.. ;)))
I think it is more than just a coincidence that incidents like this start to happen days after Malik Ishaq of LeJ is set free. If our legal system cannot keep confessed murderers of 70+ people behind bars, we should not be surprised at incidents like this. May Allah bless the souls of those who died, give sabr to their families, and save Pakistan from the likes of Malik Ishaq.
Self-righteous middle class gets offended by obvious facts because it bursts their pathetic myths about nation and ummah. It hurts when the balloon deflates so quickly. And the sectarian bias in the comments of some of the educated ones is just nauseating.
@LoneliberalPK I actually said the same thing as you, if you read my comment above. The rest of my argument I am not going to bother, because you have an irrational hatred for religion and anything religion-related whether or not it has substance or any relevance to the topic (something a common theme in ALL your comments on ET). You are one of those who mock religion for the sake of it in itself. but you are entitled to your view. Goodnight mister!
It was surely sectarian matter. No one has the right to kill human being because of the fact that he belongs to a different sect. Hatred to such an extend? Pakistan will never forge to development unless such matters are taken care of because people envy, they don't like seeing one person belonging to a different sect on a higher possession.
Err,
Actually, Oppenheimer gave us the atomic bomb. Blaming Einstein for nuclear weapons is like blaming Newton if you slip and fall down. He simply discovered and explained the principles of physics that led to the atomic bomb.
Also, science is not capable of anything. Science is simply knowledge of how things work. A chemistry book doesn't command you what to do with sulphuric acid and sodium bicarbonate. It only informs you how the two react when mixed.
..as opposed to holy books that command people what to do, who to despise, and who to kill. So the way they're interpreted and the devotion with which they're followed, can sometimes be a genuine cause for concern.
@BS.Detecter: "@Reasoner: Shias live in Pakistan with much more liberty than anywhere else"
I think that's the most incredible statement I've ever read on this blog. So Shias, who have been routinely murdered for BEING SHIA for many years in Pakistan, have more liberty than Shias in the US, UK, Australia, Germany, France, etc., etc., etc.? Astounding!!!!!!
@God Delusion What a dumb answer. I clearly said science is capable of good AND bad. And I also clearly said that atheists are also capable of both good and bad. Can you atleast to back up your answer with substance instead of whining about humanity and Taliban. Christopher Hitchen one of the biggest atheism advocate was also a vocal war monger on Iraq, so no atheists are not the solution or the pacifists you claim they are. Also scientific achievement has nothing to do with religion which is a personal choice. Einstein's geniousity has nothing to do with his atheism. If I use your logic then Einstein's hero the great Isaac Newton was Anglican, so was Louis Pasteur, Edwin Hubble and Marie Curie practising christians who made outstanding achievements to science. The fathers of algebra, algorithm were Muslims. Some of the pioneering accomplishments in the field of astronomy, exploration and medicines have been Muslims. The first encyclopedia on surgery and inventions of surgery tools were by a Al-Zahrawi, Ibn Sina wrote the first encyclopedia on medicine. My point is scientific achievements have nothing to do with whether one is Christian, muslim or athiest. DO your homework before you make sweeping statements. Also the coffee you drink the first thing in the morning before you write such comments on ET - that great contribution to humanity was also discovered by Muslims.
@Reasoner The president and prime minister of Pakistan, both are Shia.......stop whining about your sect, in the last ten years, more barelvis have been killed and more sunni mosques have been bombed.
I wonder whether Iran will close the border again in protest of Shia's being targeted. Religious extremism is going to eventually consume Pakistan - fix it while you can.
@FJ What a dumb answer. Does that make what is happening in Iran ok? Please snap out of this victim complex that shias are not capable of violence. If anything both Iran and Hezbollah are being accused of helping Alevi Shias in Syria crush sunni protestors despite the fact that alevi shia there are in a minority!
@Err: How about Hizbullah saving sunnis from Israel?
A. Did someone notice that the killings have taken place in Pakistan and not Persia.So can we go easy on Iran please?
B. And while at that, shouldn't it be remembered that Pakistan was created as a homeland for all Muslims of India, Iran never claimed such exalted status.
So, stop beating about the bush and start examining why a self proclaimed serial killer was not brought to justice by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
Are the Shias of Pakistan ruling over Iran? Are the Shias of Pakistan responsible for what happens to Sunnis all over the world? Do Shias of Pakistan become less Pakistani for discrimination against Sunnis in Iran?
@Raja: Absolutely there is nothing wrong regarding objectivity of the news as for as "Shia" and "Lawyers" words are used but the comments were given for the media to highlight its responsibility in a society which is already engulfed in fire of sectarianism and avoid using any such mean which can further flare it up
The poison from IRAN and SAUDI ARAB is destroying PAKISTAN
My analysis, Where ever there is no tolerance for minorities be it ethnic, religious, linguistic, gender, sectarian et al, there would never be peace, even if were to be, it would be for a short spell. Now explanation: when there is intolerance and violence against the above said minorities then the minorities are forced to migrate or become part of the majority out of fear or appeasement but violence would not die down, it would only grow bigger, and now from micro minority the violence would target the minority and finally to the minority within the majority. The worst case would be when the minority within the majority are targeted. then the point of no return would reach. Solution: No matter how easy or difficulty it is, better to promote non violence and peace. Rgds Whats in the name.
ppl having top comments here don't know the ground reality.... (keeping Karachi in mind) Its definitely a sectarian act !!!
Sad, very sad! Whosoever is behind these killings is an enemy of humanity, no an enemy of life itself a necrophile. This act of barbarism must be condemned and rejected by us all irrespective of whatever our beliefs and confessions are. This is terrorism and we must fight it together with all our might and determination. I'm not a Shia but I mourn this tragedy and I condemn the perpetrators and I sympathise with all those victims and their families and all who mourn them.
And pakistanis say minorities in India are persecuted.
It is really disappointing and whats more is that why do you mention the sect? ET now you are salting the injuries.I did watch this new on TV, so far i have not seen any channel describing their sect. ET get serious and be responsible please.
While it is too early to conclude if the killing had sectarian objectives, some of us are getting unnecessarily rankled because of the mention of 'Shia' in the article. The response (as well as long term solutions ) of the society will be differrent depending on "3 men shot", "3 lawyers shot", "3 muslims shot" or "3 shias shot". Some media outfits may choose not to mention the religion or sect or anyother aspect that could be a factor in a violent incident, but to be fair to their readers and provide a more wholesome news, almost all media outfits would at least include terms like " religious" or "sectarian" or "political" incident
But let us remember this: while the motive is unknown, it has been established that they are shias and that they were also lawyers. Both have been mentioned and in that respect, there is no falsehood in the article
An Unacceptable Head line."3 Shia Lawyer Killed"... Dear Editor, Why labelling it with sect before any investigation done. Why not condon the killing of innocent people by and large by everyone?. This news paper didn't say same thing in yesterday's new when one lawyer of other sect was murdered. Plz dont publish Hatred among muslims od this Country.
I am also of the opinion that the headline should not carry the words "Shia Lawyers". That is obviousely a sectarian incident but still we needs to be responsible. I agree with one of the commentators who termed it as MASALA news and that is true. Media being one of the main pillar of the state or society should act responsibly and be cautious while using any such provocative words or terminoligies
@shadi: any idea about life of sunnis in iran! i guess no! any idea about number of sunni mosques! and what syrian shia leaders are doing to the population! We have a govt that is has most of shias in power, we have equal opportunities for shias in any field. quit whining about it!
God Delusion: you are from the same line of mullahs and pastor, trying to preach atheism on the basis of scientists,out of who all professed wars, took sides, worked for the armies, developed weaponry etc. so my friend this is a human attribute, STOP Preaching Atheism!
@ BS detector : "Shias live in Pakistan with much more liberty than anywhere else Go on try out Shiaism in Saudi Arabia and Sunnism in Iran"
U do have great role models to compare with, i congratulate you!
@antony Yes thank you for that token E=MC2 answer. Is that your best defence of Einstein? Hit someone in the head with a formula as an all encompassing statement in itself? It would be redundant of me to to say how much Einstein contributed to science because it's obvious. My comment was a rhetorical response to someone which you clearly failed to see. His contribution to nuclear physics which led to the creation of the first atom bomb and ushered in the period of nuclear age through the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is something Einstein HIMSELF regretted as a legacy that would be attached to him. So please science is as much capable of advancing destruction and misery as it is capable of bringing benefits.
@BS DETECTOR
1, In fact shias live in peace and prosperity pretty much every where on the globe EXCEPT in Sunni majority countries.
2, if you are going to compare your country with any other, choose the best examples not the worst (even if the truth is inconvenient)
3, stop apologizing for extremists who really are the sworn enemies of shias, and by extension, yours.
I think most commenters agree that ET is jumping the gun to spice up the sectarian aspect of the killing. Seriously ET not professional at ALL!!!
@shadi: Do you know there no Sunni mosque in tehran (largest city) force conversions of sunnis to shiasm
i'll dig them for you
Err Jews never ever be a athiest they are more religous than any one can imagines.
@Zohaib Thats because reason they were targeted is because they were Shias. But you are free to live in denial all you want.
@God Delusion Yes thank you for naming your token atheists. Einstein gave us the atom bomb (worked on the same team as the Manhattan Project which went on to give humanity the gift of Hiroshima and Nagasaki) and well hitchens he was a fanatic advocate of the Iraq War (ironically the same side as evangelicals) moral of the story: atheists are human beings after all and capable of the same evil and problems that the rest of us. Weak case!
For God's sake stop calling Shia & Sunni to each other. Our Allah and our Prophet are same. Why the editor of Tribune chose to use the word Shia in heading is anybody's guess.? We all must be upset on killings, no matter who.
M. R@fique Zakaria Karachi.
its sad and deplorable act.
Using the word Shia in a headline is very inflammatory. No one is sure why this happend yet the first conclusion is sect attack. Its a very old trick to cause problem in Pakistan.
I didn't get the point of writing SHIA aren't they Muslim or paki's, did their blood color differ from others ?? Whats the point behind elaborating shia's ?? Why don't you write SUNI killed when other guys get killed? Whats the point ?
Religion divides people. It creates semblance of peace to protect the veil of violence. Organised religion needs to be buried.
I don't understand why ET does not publish the voices of atheist. They have contributed most to the society. Atheist like Einstien , Stephen hawking , Darwin , Richard dawkins, christopher hitchens have contributed more to the society than mullahs,clergies,popes,priests etc.
Why you dominant the word 'Shia' in heading?
We all are Pakistanis, no matter who is Sunni, Shia, Doebani, Barelvi etc.
Killing of innocent peopole in any sect, faith whether it is Islam, Christanity or any other religion of the world is prohibited.
The killers should be severly punbished by the law of the country.
May Al-Mighty Allah rest their souls in peace. Ameen.
@Aqeel Ahmed:
Only to their own supporters. For the rest of us they are Sipah-e-Sahaba, the banned anti-Shia outfit. The reason they are banned suggests they were involved in nefarious activities in state's opinion.
SHIA! right? could've been reported without mentioning their sect! What a MASALA news!
@BS.Detector okay all u people who say that iran is anti sunni! give me one article! one report by any independent HR group where any minority in iran has been targeted! there are JEWS in iran that live with freedom and have a quota of seats in their national assembly! this fasion of killing minorities in pakistan was introduced by zia ul haq and is still carried today! in early 90s it was the shia doctors that were targeted and now lawyers..such a shame
What a shame. i think solution for this madness is just killed the crimnals with there own guns.
Go for the root cause. only then this will stop.stop gulf aid to these killers only then this can be stopped.Otherwise prepare for civil war.
@Reasoner: Shias live in Pakistan with much more liberty than anywhere else
Go on try out Shiaism in Saudi Arabia and Sunnism in Iran
Stop complaining about about everything and do something positive which infact helps
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajeoon. Murder in the name of God or murder due to enmity????? Both unacceptable ! May Allah grant families sabr and departed souls best place in junnah. Aameen.
Sectarian killing. obviouslly. why not religious leaders of all sects sit togather and try to stamp out difference, if there is any. what the government is doing?? so obsessed with SC cases????
What a nonsense article.....SHIA killed... why not say a lawyer killed, or a left-handed person killed, or say a middle aged person killed....why bring sects into everything?
I am in shocked... i am sure Pakistan will be Doctor, Lawyer FREE Country very soon:(
Shias have been targeted since late 80's. It does not acquire any rocket science to conclude that this was an act of sectarian killing. Period.
Stop fooling your selves guys. It was indeed a secterian violence. Hello it's Karachi we live in!! Yesterday a lawyer from ASWJ was killed, and today 3 from shia killed..is it too difficult to figure out the puzzle?
@Roflcopter
So you assume it was a sectarian attack because victims just happened to be shia?
Can you give any other reasons please? Oh, I forgot, There was no OBL and There are no Lawyers.
Too bad and too sad! :-(
Yes I do have doubt, wait for the investigation before jumping to conclusions.
it is such an irresponsible on part of the SSP to pass such a statement that it was a sectarian incident without any proper investigation. These are the lawyers who died. Why do we have to bring in religion every where. It is an unfortunate event but responsible authorities and the society should start taking things beyond the scope of religious sects. Three Pakistanis died. Three innocent men lost their lives which should not be happening at any cost. That is it. No shia no sunni or ahmedi died. Value of life of every human being is equal and every person loosing his life in Pakistan should be deal in this very sense.
@Roflcopter: YES. Is there any doubt in your mind?
Thank you ET for updating the news!
@Roflcopter:
Being Shia is a very big crime in Pakistan ...... I have no doubt that its a sectarian attack !
After Shaheed Askari Raza - another attempt on Shia Lawyers.
So you assume it was a sectarian attack because victims just happened to be shia?
Its SSP Naeem Sheikh, Not SSP Tariq Dharejo
yesterday lawyers of one community were killed and today the those of the other sect have been killed.if these ppl keep on killing the ppl of each other's sects,then where will that lead our country?
5mm Calibre....kidding?