The murder of 20-year-old Shahzeb Khan has ignited a movement that left the social media on Sunday evening and entered the real world.
Hundreds of Shahzeb’s friends, supporters and sympathisers gathered outside Karachi Press Club, carrying banners from which his face smiled down upon everyone.
The ‘Justice for Shahzeb Movement’ had gained significant presence online, and Sunday’s turnout showed that his supporters will not rest until justice is served. The protesters demanded the chief justice of Pakistan take suo motu action of the killing and arrest the culprits.
Shahzeb was killed allegedly by Shahrukh Jatoi near Mubarak Masjid in DHA on Tuesday night. The killing resulted from a small argument he had with Nawab Siraj Talpur, when the latter’s servant verbally harassed his sister. Talpur and his friend, Jatoi, allegedly followed Shahzeb and shot him.
The killing mobilised hundreds of people against the unquestioned authority that people with political connections enjoy in the country. At Sunday’s protest, shouts of “We want justice, justice for Shahzeb Khan”, “Shahrukh Jatoi ko phansi doh,” [Shahrukh Jatoi should be hanged] reverberated through the streets of Saddar.
A grim-faced cousin of Shahzeb, Daniyal said that the purpose of this movement was for every youngster killed in an unjust manner. With black bands tied around their arms, Shahzeb’s friends said that he was popular for his good nature. Next to him, another friend Asad, carried Shahzeb’s picture that said ‘I did not die. I just departed to stop the killings of other Shahzebs’. Asad said that despite the fact that the victim’s father was a police officer, he was against guns and never used them.
Asad Butt, a Human Rights Commission of Pakistan representative, said that all the NGOs should unite against the rich who use their power to get away with crimes. Several politicians, including Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s Raza Haroon, Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz’s Nehal Hashmi and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf’s Dr Arif Alvi also came, but the protesters insisted on keeping the demonstration free from any political association.
After a peaceful march from the press club to Zainab Market, the protesters then relocated to Sea View from where they walked to Shahzeb’s house in Country Club Apartments. Shahzeb’s mother sat in front of the building’s main gate, where the argument had taken place. With her head hung low, she recited prayers for her son’s soul. Afreen Shiraz, who turned up with her husband after seeing Shahzeb’s memorial page, said that every parent should become a part of the movement. “I have two teenaged daughters and I get worried about them as they have kids in their schools with armed guards. The wrong usage of guns needs to be stopped.”
DSP Aurangzeb, Shahzeb’s father, said that he would not give up. “Those influential people can use their power and money to stop the police from arresting the criminals but we will not give up. I will knock on every door to get justice for my son.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 31st, 2012.
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@Maqbul Bhai Bihari: I agree with you maqbul bhai, they have deliberately made Shahzeb a hero and the protesters are not maintaining equality, it is clearly Tasub Parasti with Sindhis, this is the reason, Otherwise these people have nothing to do with Shahzeb because he was neither their relative nor brother.
Allah humein es mehengai aur berozgari ke masaael se bachae, I appeal for justice from CJ Pakistan for inflation and unemployment because the degrees we have got are useless until we are appointed on merit.
he is in jannat , people who killed him just wanting to take revenge which made them feel better and let shahzeb suffer the pain but in reality he is in jannat and he hasnt suffered any pain he have made him a better place and he is a shaheed , people who killed him will suffer the pain and allah will do the justice insallah
On one side the son of a retired DSP and close relative of a highly official in ppp govt Nabil Gabol and the other side is a son of a sindhi waderra and landlord of high ranks there must be a tug of war between the two giants indeed.one must be arrogant and the other be offensive the bravery and stupidity brought the disaster for the both families.May Allah guide us the islamic brotherhood and humanity to deal each other.Sometimes the victum is right but crushed and sometimes the oppressor is right but blamed for the consequences.Allah knows who is the best judge in all disputes.But in this world the rule is an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth what our religion and Al-mighty Allah proclaims in the Holy Quran.Anyhow all our sympathies and sorrows with the family of Shah Zeb.May Allah give them the justice from this worldly courts.
@nabila: em Haneen ahmad from isb, i protest against this cruel murder, i request to our respected chief justice of pakistan please take any action to stop it.please provide justice to the family of our innocent brother shahzeb khan.
@liberal_pak: Have you heard of the butterfly effect? It's true that the pakistani youth rarely stands up for a cause...because at the back of our mind, we feel it is useless, that no change will take place no many how many times or how loudly we protest. However, if this movement brings about a change, I believe...I have faith, that the youth of pakistan will become more active towards bettering the nation.
@Umair Waheed, IBA, Khayban e Hafiz: No, you got my designation wrong.... I am The PR Manager! ... Are you serious??? GOD!
Why are thousands of people supporting Shahzeb's Cause?? Why has the chief justice taken suo moto action in this case? Have you seen the facebook page supporting Shahzeb?? I guess all these people and the chief justice are his publicity managers then!
Why in God's name would i be doing PR for a guy i never knew before the news of his murder broke??
Do you seriously think that the popular support for him is because of DSP Aurenzeb and Nabeel Gabol?? Do they have such vast resources to sway the opinion of thousands of people in their favor?
The whole country is out for jatoi's and talpur's blood and you are stuck on Dsp Aurenzeb and Nabeel Gabol!
Don't you see the real reason behind such wide spread support? The first and foremost is terrible and horrendous cruelty being perpetrated and practiced by the powerful against the weak! Do you think it is about one guy?? No, its not!
The case of Shahzeb is a clarion call against injustice! It is a wake up call for this unfortunate and drowning society,, to take heed of the warning signs, to hear the growing thunder of impending doom and utter chaos about to be visited on us.....
Shahzeb, no matter what he did at 4 A.M...... has given us a warning that we better snap out of our collective slumber and join hands to stop the bloodshed and mayhem, before its too late!!
It's that simple, my dear brother.. Hope you understand.
Personally i dont know shahzeb Khan but right now i know he would be in heaven :) . The Culprits Should be hanged to death or shoot to death just the way they did to shahzeb ! Wherever i go i find people with guards and guns , I literally laugh on them that they think as if they look really cool but seriously they dont have any life ! I Know the police isn't really doing their work , iam sure if a minister son was killed they would have catch the person within some hours . What i think so that if the police wont be able to catch the culprits then we all should request the Pakistan army and its intelligence Agencies to take action against the culprits ! Our nation is corrupt , the people are corrupt and the goverment is corrupt .. Atleast our Army has its power to deal with waderas , Ministers and MNA or MPA's We cant get Shahzeb khan back but atleast we can get the culprits hanged to death ! How easy it is in pakistan to kill someone and get away with it . Our authorities Wont even care to ask anyone but its the support of everyone that atleast they decided to take some action .!
kamal you are one of the people hired by shahzeb guys to do free publicity I guess for them. Do you know who Nabeel Gabol is and who his son is? A small time petty revenue officer now has a 4000 sq yrd house at Hafiz and countless other properties etc. How many crimes have they committed? And who told you shahzeb was avenging his sisters honour? Now if his sister had a valima how come she came back to shahzebs place? Now dont tell me he had 4 sisters? And the only point which I am making here is that shahzeb went out at 4am to teach these guys a lesson thinking that being DSP's son he could do anything but he later found out who these people were. so life has come full circle for dsp aurangzeb. Just ask people in the darakshan arean who DSP aurangzeb is and you will come to know.
@Ali: So, dear uncle, then maybe Nabeel Gabol should take up his cause.
And what about talpur and jatoi?? Are they not politically connected?
And by the way, how many police officals "protect" nowadays?? does it mean then that all their sons should be hunted and then gunned down?? Is anybody remotely connected with power and authority in this wretched land protecting the innocent??
No matter who is getting prime time.. Shazeb is not!! or is he?
Shazeb should be a wakeup call for all of us! that if we do not wake up now, then it will be too late for all our sons!
That is what Shazeb is, A catalyst for change..
@Umair Waheed, IBA, Khayban e Hafiz: Why would i be fooling people?? What is my motive to fool? Am i a celebrity or a news anchor vying for cheap publicity?? Does not matter who DSP Aurenzeb is and how and why he amassed so much wealth! HE lost a son , who according to the "National Media" was trying to save the honour of his sister. That is what we know. Or maybe you have all the intricate details and would kindly care sharing it with the rest of us ordinary mortals.. Maybe the media is lying and DSP Aurezeb bought them off to make his son look innocent. Maybe its another conspiracy theory with mega rich people and mosad, cia, and raw behind it! Mr. Umair, i am a very ordinary person living a very ordinary life .. What motive would i possibly have in favouring shazeb? Did i want to impress DSP Aurenzeb so he could share some of his wealth with me..is that what you are implying?? What i was humbly stating, was the symbolic and now mainstream cruelty being perpetrated everyday across Pakistan. I said that if it was a shazeb to take a stand against this cruelty, then let it be. Now let me elaborate my feelings on shazeb going out for tea at 4 a.m.. If he went to avenge his sister, who according to the media, was harrased by those goons, he would be a hero in my eyes even if he gunned them down! We the ordinary mortals get our info from the media and are unfortunately not privy to intricate details about Shazeb's family and their activities, as you would have.. As for his mother, i wish i was there and could have saved shazeb. I wish i could have shot those goons and saved his mother from the terrible ordeal and agony she is going through! He was the only son, as far as i know.. People are supporting Shazeb for the atrocity and the crime that now symbolize this country. He is a catalyst for change.. It is not supporting an individual or his wealthy father, but to save 100s or 1000s of similar sons who would keep on getting killed if this society does not change its barbaric ways! No matter what shazeb did or how big a phaddy baaz he was. IF he died saving his sister's honour then i would support him a million times! Seems to me that you hold a personal grudge against shazeb.. Pardon me but that is what it seems..
@Kamal: Munna, everyone has to go to grave, this is how he was supposed to die. As some of the people pointed that that his father is DSP & politically connected to nabeel gabol, so thats why they are getting prime time on web & news media. If his father has cared to protect other civilians during his tenure, this might have ended in a different way so its poetic justice!
Dear Readers
It is unfortunate that a young man was lost to the whims of two feudal kids. It is also true that youth have agitated and the Supreme Court has taken a suo motto notice of this killing. It is also true that there is media hype behind this movement. Still a murder is a murder and the killer must be arrested, tried and punished per the law of land.
My only submission is that the people of Pakistan that included me till I left Pakistan, have not tasted the real taste of democracy - right and duties of everyone well defined regardless of the social status of the person. There may be more than one one significant factors why we are not able to get rid of sham democracy and usher in an era of real democracy e.g., prolonged martial laws/army rules etc. One big factor is feudalism. A feudal mindset considers others beneath itself and has no regard for life and honor of those who are not in the same feudal class. Tell me the name of one country in the world where feudalism and genuine democracy co-exit. You wont find any such country. This movement should be converted into a mass movement to eradicate feudalism from the country so no other Shahzeb is killed. Merely arresting the killers and sentencing them to death will not harm feudal system, it is capable of producing many more Jatois and more Talpurs. Yes I want the killers arrested and tried in the court of law and given the punishment that is due to them BUT at the same time we as a nation have to come up and move to finsih off feudalism from Pakistan.
@liberal_pak: May be it is the start. It is better to late than never
@Kamal: Please dont try to fool people. Did you take a good look at the people Shahzeb's dad has fooled which let him buy this apartment as well other property and membership of clubs, cars and so on. before we jump the band wagon and try to be the good guys we have to know who we are supporting and I will not be supporting anyone who has wronged others even if they are dead. And when you talk of Shahzeb's mother what about the mothers of thousands of guys who are routinely arrested by dsp aurangzeb? there are two sides to a coin dont jump to conclusions until you know the real story. And you have not answered my question: After a phadda with jatoi and talpur why would Shahzeb go out for tea at 3 or 4am in the morning? Answer this and you will know.
these murderers must be hanged. wake up Pakistani youth. now a days social media is so strong it can topple off any thing. everyone remember faces of these two murderers, even if they have fled outside the country, report at social sites wherever they are seen. keep watching , keep remembering, keep reporting until justice is done. God bless us.
Apparently there were 40 people when the argument was taking place. No one intervened. This exactly what's happening in the rest of the country. Handful of people are causing problems and the rest of us are just on-looking. Rather than pointing fingers at the boy's father and the politicians and the rich people, we need to look at ourselves.
"The movement must continue."
@Umair Waheed, IBA, Khayban e Hafiz:
Well, if Shahzeb was into phaddas, he must have had an idea or two about a jatoi and a talpur. Even if he did not, did he deserve being chased and then hunted like an animal??
If he came to someone's house with his police guards, did he then deserve to die like this?
DID YOU TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT HIS MOTHER?? Something died inside me when i saw his mother on express news..
Maybe, some of us are angry, at the VIP status accorded to him.. We should all take a good, long look at his still unmarked grave. I'm quite sure that there is no VIP in being dead and buried!
What if Shahzeb was my real brother?? What if he was your real brother? would it matter what kind of attention was given? The only thing on my and your mind would be untold grief, and revenge!
Please, it's time that we rise above petty personal prejudice and embrace collective responsibility and embrace such tragic incidents as our own. Only then will we be able to function as a cohesive unit and fulfill our role in rooting out such terrible extremism from our society.
Shahzeb was my cousin and I will not rest until we arrest these waderas. How many Shahzebs do we want now. We must give exemplary punishment to these two guys and Siraj Talpur should be arrested or else I will call the big guys, the Pakistan army. Tum kitnay Shahzeb maro ge har ghar se Shahzeb niklay ga.
its so baad , so painfull , its because of our silence . This time to wake up otherwise next family is ours We all with u Mr Ourangezaib stand for the justice be brave
sooo saaad , this is because of our fear , be brave and fight for justice all the world with u
' Hundreds of african americans were oppressed and murdered for civil rights in america in the 50's, but it was one black girl that refused to give up her seat to a white person on a bus that brought about the civil rights revolution in that country and changed it forever'.... remember, it always takes just 1.. Its our time for a revolution now, and shahzeb may be the one.. '
@Maqbul Bhai Bihari: @Jibran: @liberal_pak:
Does it matter?? Is Shahzeb getting VIP Treatment?? He is in a grave! Is that VIP treatment?
The innocents killed every day in Karachi and the rest of the country are in no way less important. But what is important is the galvanization of the public opinion against the horrific barbarity perpetrated everyday in this unfortunate country.
Does it matter that it is Shahzeb's issue that has jolted this insensitive society out of its callous slumber??
For God's sake, don't make this an issue about class wars! If it takes a shazeb to wake up this nation to fight terrible injustice, then so be it!
Shahzeb had an argument with me once and he brought his police guards to my place at Khayban e Hafiz. Now he didnt know that arguing with Talpurs would lead to this. I know for sure that Shahzeb was into phaddas and although it is unfortunate his death but his policeman dad will know if you wrong others you will be wronged. I am just angry at so much attention being given to shahzeb. (now print this as I have seen that you dont print anything which is not according to your thought)
why are we proud of Pakistan? Is it because of the few people who own this country?
Yes, others have been killed, but Express Tribune and other newspapers report on all those cases as well; so I fail to understand why people are getting upset that this is being reported. Furthermore, it continues to make news because friends of the deceased are raising their voice visibly. Other protests or walks to Press Club etc are also reported on. Friends of the deceased are protesting becuase they feel strongly; that also happens in other cases and that is reported on. I dont think people should be upset because of this. I continue to fail to understand the psyche of the Pakistani people. If you believe that your cause is not being taken up, organize a peaceful protest like these people have and make your voice heard. I am also impressed that they turned away political involvement. Perhaps the rest of Pakistan should become a bit more mature in how they react.
please i request the youth of pakistan to support our movement justice for shahzeb
So sad...r we Muslims..??
This is a first??? What about Salmaan Taseer? What about the 2 brothers that were lynched, what about the hundreds of women getting raped? What about the mentally challenged man that was burnt at the stake? People were out in droves but nothing came of it. I think those issues were a lot more pressing than the one at hand. Don't get me wrong, I totally condemn the act and hope the murderers are brought to justice but please wake up and take a look around you. We Pakistanis are only pushed into action when its convenient for us and the sad part is that we never finish the job. Were never going to rid our country of the violence and corruption through these marches which are meaningless in the long run. The government doesn't give two hoots about our little banners that are being plastered all over TV. The powers that be will eventually pass some minor resolution to shut everyone up and we are going to be back to square one. If you really want to make a difference, get out and start a Pakistani equivalent of the Arab Spring.
@ Liberal_Pak i am a shia my self and trust me i know the pain of loosing some one close to you...some one from my family was a victim of target killing just a few months back in karachi. so i assure u i know when i say i feel the pain. but this is a good thing! whether the kid steps out at 1 or 4 or 5 or 6 the point of living in a democracy is tht every man has a right to come back home to his parents every women has a right to nto be harassed on the street and every father has a right to get justice for his child.
There are many problems in pakistan undoubtably, pakistan as a whole is bleeding and i assure you everyone of you who commented on this article if it was a demonstration against shia killings there would have been dime a dozen ppl who would have bashed it here saying oh all of pakistan is bleeding everyones dying why should shias be treated differently and trust me i have seen people right such things because we as a nation have become extremely bitter.
Lets not be bitter, no matter what the cause was, that kid did not deserve dying for standing up to defend his sister, infact that kid did not deserve dying even if he was just walking on a street. We must heal Pakistan one wound at a time. Please show respect and say prayers for this boys soul and also that these scoundrals get what they deserve.
Well this is the moment to think about our Pakistan not only Karachi......You all are representing Pakistani youth but why you taking this case in a negative sense...if you care for target killings n all then why r you waiting for guys why don't you also come to protest for your issues if you really have courage to do practically instead of showing stupidity in comments.... If u really want a system ,a justice in Pakistan not only in Karachi then first support to these courgeous people... May b you all are not like Shahzaib Khan but you all are brothers,so mind it...........!!! Change will definitly come when you people will change your minds so plzzzzzzzzzzz if you cant't support anyone then you don't have a rite to stop them!!!!
The protest is a start, everyone should do so. Lets start from somewhere, this is a first.
All the losers in comments section who decry highlighting of this murder, why didn't you start a protest on the streets for all the other victims you claim didn't get enough attention. You should've gone out and made some noise if you have a problem with Shahzaib's friends creating commotion. Secondly, it's not about Shahzaib Khan. It's about law being equal for everyone. Influentials know that they can act in whatever way they wish just because they can wield influence and get out of tricky situations easily. It's about bringing them to justice, Shahzaib is just a means to that end. So stop your BS
I fully support this movement. Its about justice for everyone.
People in other cases such as target killing the murderers are unknown but here the murderers are known so thats why they are protesting. The murderers are known and still not they are getting arrested is the case. While on the other hand not all police officers are corrupt, n many youngsters go to hang out in night and shahzeb went after valima so its understood. Who had in mind that people will take out guns?
let say one thing you dont know story so dont talk smack he didnt go out for tea at 4 am he went down at 1 am to park his car thats when it took place @Jibran:
How insensitive of people saying that why this incident is being promoted and not other killings. True, every murder and attack should be looked into. But we do have to start from somewhere. Its Shahzeb's friends and families effort and their thirst for his justice that the media and other people got to know about him.
The whole point is to bring this incident to people's attention and stop such killings especially when we know where its being originated from.
there are many people like Shahzeb who die due to such type of criminal acts 7 Killings and they dont get fame . shahzeb is son of DSP Aurangzeb What about those who die everyday we dont see such kind of protest for them
@liberal_pak: Sir, lets not say that if protests didnt take place for the other issues so it shouldnt be done in this case too. This case is different because the killers are known. Still they have escaped because they belong to influential families. Its not about this young boy only but about spreading the realization that these feudal families are NOT above the law.
Why we can not start working for betterment whole Arab spring started from a suicide of one young man no body questioned at that time why we were quite for long time against these govt we have to start from some where please don't support killers and start working for change.
Political influence combined with an impotent law enforcing and justice system has become a curse on our heads. We must pull up our socks and march ahead with the rest of the world. Justice is required for Pakistan if it has to survive. Salams
The alleged must be arrested and punished as soon as possible. We are with Shahzaib Khan's family....
puts all these waderas in jail or grave,the only way out,next time dont wont for ppp.
DSP Aurangzeb, Shahzeb’s father, said: “Those influential people can use their power and money to stop the police from arresting the criminals”
This is precisely what you have been doing your entire career, i.e., helping the influential people when it was for the kids of the less fortunate commoners.
"I will knock on every door to get justice for my son.”
Now you feel, how the weaker elements of the society felt. You had the duty to protect the lives of the common people. Have you ever shown similar enthusiasm to pursue justice for the victims gunned down on a daily basis. As a police officer, you failed them. Even now you are more interested in pursuing only one murder case, ignoring more than a thousand incidents this year.
Let's not make him a hero like Sarfraz Shah (Rangers Incident) or Faizan Haider and Faheem Shamshad (Raymond Davis Incident). 1. You don't leave your home 4:00 in the morning for a cup of tea with your friends, after a fight, especially in a city like Karachi. 2. Many 18 year olds in Karachi have connections with a political party which has easy access to weapons. 3. We don't know what exactly transpired. It takes two to make a fight. 4. The father of the deceased is a old police veteran having rising from the lower ranks. It doesn't need rocket science to figure out the source of his income to support his lavish lifestyle. He has kept his eyes closed for the crimes going on in the city. And eventually, he himself fell in the same pit, which he had been guarding for others, if he had himself not dug it up.
So Shahzeb gets VIP treatment because he used to be in the DHA circuit? What about all those other innocents who get killed every day by these politically-connected people? Who speaks for them? Why do these poster-carrying protesters never speak about them?
No one announced bounty for the murderers. I wonder. Perhaps, its about sponsors of bounties themselves, this time around.
How selected Urban youth is busy in singular case sensationalized by some media outlets. Did they REALLY care about Shia genocide, Baloch massacre, extremist attacks and atrocities of violent groups in Karachi. How many protests have they done? Thousands of innocent poor people died in 2012 in Karachi, why not we demand justice for every innocent people and accountability for every criminal group. This is more a show off or a lip service than a real service for nation.