Remembrance: Whispers of the Akka Khel tragedy
It was alleged that hundreds of onlookers had personally witnessed this murder in Spin Qabar area of Akka Khel.
“Sahar was killed because of this one card by the militants, in the presence of hundreds of people,” says Noorul Basar. PHOTO: FILE
PESHAWAR:
It was March 25, 2011.
News that Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI) members had slaughtered a policeman in broad daylight spread like wildfire throughout Khyber Agency. It was alleged that hundreds of onlookers had personally witnessed this murder in the Spin Qabar area of Akka Khel.
Immediately, the police were asked to verify the claim. Yet, before they had finished inquiries, Mukamal Shah, the general secretary of the Tappa Mohmand Amn Committee, approached the local Badabher police station. He informed the authorities that his cousin and brother-in-law, Aftab Sahar, had been missing for five days and had disappeared from the Akka Khel area. Sahar, popularly known as Qamary, was a taxi driver.
It did not take long to put the pieces together. Informers sent word that the body and clothes indicated the murdered man was Qamary. A police contingent, assisted by volunteers of the local peace militia, reached the area around 2 am and retrieved the mutilated body. The head had been severed and put on his chest. It was, indeed, Sahar.
Why was he killed? Why did the rumours speak of a policeman, not a taxi driver? Essentially, it all came down to a Special Police Force card.
The card was issued to Qamary in 2008 and valid for just one year. Because of this, he was mistaken for a policeman by militants, who brutally killed him to make him an example for other officials. They also took his car.
In actuality, he had nothing to do with the police. He was issued the card simply because his cousin, Mukamal Shah, had insisted his illegal taxi would not be stopped this way.
Qamary leaves behind a widow and five children – three sons, two daughters.
“He was killed because of this one card by the militants, in the presence of hundreds of people,” said his brother Noorul Basar, a local poet. “The most unfortunate fact is that these manslayers are roaming freely.”
The Pakhtun code of conduct prohibits killing of innocent people who cannot defend themselves – an act considered deeply shameful. However, as this incident illustrates the rise of militancy has changed everything.
Noorul Basar has written this poem in memory of Qamary. Through this narrative, he attempts to portray his brother’s feelings at the hour of death. In this way, Qamary – and all those who have suffered a similar fate – are immortalised. It is Basar’s way of making certain that their suffering, the injustice they endured, is not easily forgotten.
Between the Wolves
Is there anyone who will rescue me from the hands of these butchers,
From these men, who are taking me to my death like an animal,
Who will be able to convey my cries to my God,
Who will be able to take my cries and pledges to my mother,
They (these militants) have masked their faces,
They have put a black sheet of cloth on my face too,
(This is a sign that the end has approached)
They have decreed that I am a non-believer,
They have decreed that my killing is valid,
I have been branded an infidel wretch,
Is anybody there to consider me too a true Muslim,
Is anybody there to consider me even a human being,
Can any one stop this brutality,
What religion and holy book advocate this inhuman behavior,
Who will give me a chance to live my normal life like all others,
In this world full of colours,
Alas, everyone on earth listens to your decree,
And my cries are no more than a whispering to the world,
Is anybody there to comfort me at this moment of regret and mourning,
Is anybody there to save me from these biting beasts,
Once my head is cut off like an animal head,
Of what use will be the cries of the whole world,
Of what use will be the cries of heaven and earth,
Once I am dead,
The cries of human beings and animals are of but little use to me,
What if my death is condemned by judges and victims alike with one voice,
It is of no use at all,
Is anybody there to listen to his brother,
The Pukhtuns are suffering like animals in this world,
I have a right to live,
I have a father and mother,
I have a family and household,
My mother has been awaiting my return,
Don’t kill me in this manner, it is a great shame for any Pukhtun to die this death of an animal,
It will be a shame for my tribe and family forever.
Poem written by slain taxi driver’s brother
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2012.
It was March 25, 2011.
News that Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI) members had slaughtered a policeman in broad daylight spread like wildfire throughout Khyber Agency. It was alleged that hundreds of onlookers had personally witnessed this murder in the Spin Qabar area of Akka Khel.
Immediately, the police were asked to verify the claim. Yet, before they had finished inquiries, Mukamal Shah, the general secretary of the Tappa Mohmand Amn Committee, approached the local Badabher police station. He informed the authorities that his cousin and brother-in-law, Aftab Sahar, had been missing for five days and had disappeared from the Akka Khel area. Sahar, popularly known as Qamary, was a taxi driver.
It did not take long to put the pieces together. Informers sent word that the body and clothes indicated the murdered man was Qamary. A police contingent, assisted by volunteers of the local peace militia, reached the area around 2 am and retrieved the mutilated body. The head had been severed and put on his chest. It was, indeed, Sahar.
Why was he killed? Why did the rumours speak of a policeman, not a taxi driver? Essentially, it all came down to a Special Police Force card.
The card was issued to Qamary in 2008 and valid for just one year. Because of this, he was mistaken for a policeman by militants, who brutally killed him to make him an example for other officials. They also took his car.
In actuality, he had nothing to do with the police. He was issued the card simply because his cousin, Mukamal Shah, had insisted his illegal taxi would not be stopped this way.
Qamary leaves behind a widow and five children – three sons, two daughters.
“He was killed because of this one card by the militants, in the presence of hundreds of people,” said his brother Noorul Basar, a local poet. “The most unfortunate fact is that these manslayers are roaming freely.”
The Pakhtun code of conduct prohibits killing of innocent people who cannot defend themselves – an act considered deeply shameful. However, as this incident illustrates the rise of militancy has changed everything.
Noorul Basar has written this poem in memory of Qamary. Through this narrative, he attempts to portray his brother’s feelings at the hour of death. In this way, Qamary – and all those who have suffered a similar fate – are immortalised. It is Basar’s way of making certain that their suffering, the injustice they endured, is not easily forgotten.
Between the Wolves
Is there anyone who will rescue me from the hands of these butchers,
From these men, who are taking me to my death like an animal,
Who will be able to convey my cries to my God,
Who will be able to take my cries and pledges to my mother,
They (these militants) have masked their faces,
They have put a black sheet of cloth on my face too,
(This is a sign that the end has approached)
They have decreed that I am a non-believer,
They have decreed that my killing is valid,
I have been branded an infidel wretch,
Is anybody there to consider me too a true Muslim,
Is anybody there to consider me even a human being,
Can any one stop this brutality,
What religion and holy book advocate this inhuman behavior,
Who will give me a chance to live my normal life like all others,
In this world full of colours,
Alas, everyone on earth listens to your decree,
And my cries are no more than a whispering to the world,
Is anybody there to comfort me at this moment of regret and mourning,
Is anybody there to save me from these biting beasts,
Once my head is cut off like an animal head,
Of what use will be the cries of the whole world,
Of what use will be the cries of heaven and earth,
Once I am dead,
The cries of human beings and animals are of but little use to me,
What if my death is condemned by judges and victims alike with one voice,
It is of no use at all,
Is anybody there to listen to his brother,
The Pukhtuns are suffering like animals in this world,
I have a right to live,
I have a father and mother,
I have a family and household,
My mother has been awaiting my return,
Don’t kill me in this manner, it is a great shame for any Pukhtun to die this death of an animal,
It will be a shame for my tribe and family forever.
Poem written by slain taxi driver’s brother
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2012.