Haider (left) and Jamal (right) were attacked on January 4 at a short distance from their house in Agra Taj Colony. PHOTO COURTESY FAMILY
Brothers Jamal and Haider Qadri shared a lot of things - the same birthday, physical features, group of friends and both were targeted in an armed attack near their home on January 2. The one difference between them was that while Haider survived, Jamal was not as fortunate.
The 23-year-old identical twins were shot as they were on their way to the Government Commerce College in Sultanabad, where they were supposed to sit for an exam. They set off at around noon from their house in Agra Taj Colony, Lyari, in their car - a Mehran - with Jamal in the driver’s seat and Haider beside him in the passenger seat. As they stopped at a puncture shop to have the tyres inflated, the assailants closed in from behind.
Unlike other target attacks, there was no spray of bullets. The suspects just fired two shots from a pistol fitted with a silencer. One hit Jamal in the head, killing him on the spot and the other pierced Haider’s neck, seriously injuring him. The boy who was pumping gas into the tyres said that he just heard a couple of cracks and looked up to see the twins bleeding profusely. “I was terrified. I just couldn’t understand what happened and dashed towards the shop.”
The police and eyewitnesses claimed that two suspects were involved in the attack. But the twins’ father, Dr Abdul Ghafoor Qadri, said that Haider told him that there were four men on two motorcycles. Dr Qadri is the senior resident medical officer at Lyari General Hospital and couldn’t comprehend why his sons were targeted. “I lost my world. I served this area for more than 20 years and always cared for people irrespective of caste and creed,” he cried. “Why did they target my innocent sons? They were very liberal and secular. They respected elders and had friends in every sect and ethnic group. They had no personal enmity.”
The attack on the young men comes just days after Shahzeb Khan was gunned down near his home in Phase-V, Defense. One of Dr Qadri’s friends castigated the media for not covering it the same way Shahzeb’s murder was. “The media, police and courts have yet to take action. The boys are from Lyari and don’t have influential people to mount pressure on the system,” he added. “Do humans live only in Defence and Clifton?”
The eyewitness accounts suggest that the assailants were trained hitmen. While talking to The Express Tribune, Islam Gul, said, “The evidences and statements show the killers were very professional. They just shot once at Jamal and he died on the spot and then within seconds they shot Haider once as well.” Eyewitnesses have helped the police draw sketches of the killers.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 7th, 2013.
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Guys lets start a social campaign for this incident too? I need support from you guys to help me setup the facebook and twitter to bring attention of electronic media to highlight this issue and then bring the culprits to justice.
So, this news finally given some space. I have nothing against Shahzeb Khan who was unjustly murdered in cold blood. But the next day or two these twins were shot and were lying in critical condition. While the mainstream media cried for Shahzeb Khan alone, the Sindhi new channels were crying for both Shahzeb as well as the Qadri brothers. The Urdu channels didn't bother giving this news any space at all. The anti-Sindhi rhetoric in the Shahzeb Khan case did not allowed space for Sindhis targeted in killing in Karachi. The media has to show more maturity and give justice to those who deserve it just like Shahzeb is being given justice.
They both Maqtools are Sindhi . Both innocent and with loyal family , Why Justice for only One person from 25000 murder in Karachi . Supreme court is for away from Justice
Both were shia and targeted by sipah e sahaba
“Do humans live only in Defense and Clifton?”
ts the media who didn't highlight it the way Shahzeb's case was... Its not about being a DSP's son. Its the common man who didn't protest raise slogans for the twins as it was done for Shahzeb. Its us the people who make these differences. And than cry!!
very sad, this is fault of Sindh Government, specially PPP
Very sad. Please raise this issue as well as was Shahzeb's. Thanks ET for covering this important issue.
Very sad. Please raise the issue seriously. If people of Defence and Clifton really care youth like Shahzeb, they should also come out on the roads and highlight this issue as well. Do humans live only in Defence? Heartbreaking story. Appreciate ET for this too. Dont kill the issue as we wait for followups.
its really sad news.....!
We need to eliminate extremism from our cities. Everyone knows who is spreading hatred among Muslims in Pakistan. Despite of being banned by Govt. these organisations operate under different umbrella groups. Its a shame that our Govt. has completely failed in the spread of hatred, violence, extremism which is brought on our nation by pro Saudi outfits.
So sad to see everyone comparing cases. For once we should be glad that at least one case amongst the many unfortunate deaths is being followed. It could be that there is influential pressure upon the system however there were also many more eye-witnesses and named killers/suspects. These target killings aren't unimportant they just aren't that blatantly out there. This one case is supposed to set an example for a different kind of on-going violence, the kind where children or relatives of politicians/fuedals think they are above the law. Shahzeb's case sends a strong message about the power of the people and might protect the lives of many more.
Why have we become so insensitive to this bloodshed in the city?
All those criticizing the coverage and support in favor of Shahzeb Khan's death, well let me tell you this. Shahzeb khan's killers were known from the start. how many families are bold enough to mention the names of the killers since the beginning, how many families start a movement for the death ones, how many families stand up and protest and walk unafraid of the threats and pressure. very few of them and shahzeb's family was one of them.
Time for people in Karachi to show that they are united not just for Shahzeb but people like Jamal and Haider also. His father is from a noble profession and is serving people for years and yet he got this. Yes death and it's time is decided by Allah but if you give this to a father he will be dishearted and eventually leave this country like many other people. God bless Pakistan!
This is heartbreaking! We all need to wake up very soon
And why are we obsessing over Shahzeb and not over these two young boys? Just because they were not sons of a rich police DSP. They both are also somebody's sons, somebody's brothers. They also had big goals in life. They deserve attention and movements like Shahzeb too!
Even when a case is covered by media... we(media and public) tend to have a small attention span and lose interest after initial show of anger and resolve. How many of us or which media house or courts/prosecution for that matter is still following up on the Sailkot brother's case?? Bigger problem is that we don't see to it that the justice dispensed completely. I fear that even in Shahzeb's case media houses and public will cool down after some time and that will be that....
It is not the job of CJ to take notice of this, it is the job of the govt, in particular the AG who's is too busy protecting the govt rather than serving the citizens
I agree both deserve equal justice. but someone has to make a start.. and I guess our nation has started to wake up now.. let shazaib's case be the beginning to a new Pakistan!
do humans only live in clifton and defence ?
I agree both deserve equal justice. but someone has to make a start.. and I guess our nation has started to wake up now.. let shahzaib's case be the beginning to a new Pakistan!!
Both were Shia and were victims of #ShiaGenocide, Why didn't ET either use a single word of Shia or even sectarian violence?????
We need justice for all , not only a select few. Pakistan needs to be de weaponised. Please do not let it become the wild west. Anyone who prefers to keep this sort of "jewelery" should not be allowed into big cities.
Really saddening news........ the killing of one individual should shake the entire nation but I guess we have become immune to such incidents.
Shahzaib killers belong to the feudal class that has been usurping the rights of other since a very long time. It is due to this reason, there has been a hue and outcry in the public on Shahzaib's murder. This is not about a person's financial background or his influence.
It takes one incident to make the nation rise again. I sincerely hope that Shahzaib's case and cases like the Haider and Jamal can make the nation wake up to the harshness of the situation.
@ManofSteel!:
The boys are from Lyari and don’t have influential people to mount pressure on the system,” he added. “Do humans live only in Defence and Clifton?” a bitter reality..its about time everyone get fair trial and justice!
So well said
CJ you have to justify this case and take same brave step as you have taken in Shahzeb’s murder
Horrible...horrible. ..a family destroyed..again.
Shahzeb's Killer were identified but not in this case no one knows who were the trained Hit mans. nonetheless killers should be brought to justice.
The boys are from Lyari and don’t have influential people to mount pressure on the system,” he added. “Do humans live only in Defence and Clifton?”
a bitter reality..its about time everyone get fair trial and justice!
oh ! it is a terrible news . we want justice for them . it is just terrible :(
The SC should take notice of this case too...they are human too..only humans do not live in Defence & Clifton ?
Liyari so far has been free of secterian violence, if proved this would be unique case in area, but i am surprized police is unmoved, they hardly play any role in investigation, unless urged by SC, influential, this is one case where is writ of the state, it has miserably failed to protect its citizens.
To me it looks like the target killing of Barelvi's (since the sir name is Qadri) starts just like shias. Wake up people!
Another saddening news. I support the objection on media not covering this case as that of others.... When will a common man get justice in this region???