File photo of Sharmila Faruqi PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
Media reports and the public questioned why security forces were not present hours after twin blasts occurred in Abbas Town on the same night. Faruqi's event was being held at the Mohatta Palace, across town from the gruesome incident.
Amid the ruckus, Faruqi dismissed accusations that security personnel were busy at her event and were therefore unavailable to provide support in Abbas Town.
Faruqi tweeted:
“Abbas town is in District Central and Mohatta in District South Khi. They have separate Dig's to Ssp's to sho's.”
Responding to queries about the heavy contingents of police personnel at her function, Faruqi tweeted:
“Oh 32000 police personnel were protecting 400 guests? Find a better excuse to bash me!”
"Ok! So the blast was my fault and the unfortunate casualties were because Clifton Police was around Mohatta...If it soothes the haters keep abusing"
She also clarified that the event was only a dinner, and not the engagement ceremony.
“And one final clarification. My engagement was on 24th Feb at my house. Yesterday was a dinner. Simple.”
Police and paramilitary Rangers were nowhere to be seen hours after the blast in Abbas Town. None of the senior officials of local administration and police visited the site at the time.
COMMENTS (37)
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@Jawad: You actually pay taxes in Pakistan ?
This is the bane of third world countries and not just restricted to Pakistan - Misuse of official machinery.
I am utterly astonished at the lack of empathy this lady portrays to the very people who put her in power. She shows no remorse for the casualties of the incident which took place on the date of her dinner at mohatta palace. 80 police officers to guard 1 guest.... Amazing.... Only in Pakistan, in fact her attempts to defend herself are just as revolting! People of Pakistan, wake up!
We, the people, are by and large to blame for this mess.
We voted them into power by not casting our vote correctly or by selling our vote. Why do they need protection if the british PM doesnt? Because we are constantly trying to assasinate or kidnap our politicians or VVIPs for political, ethnic or other reasons.Grow up, if you dont want this culture in Pakistan, cast your vote correctly, and obey as many laws as you can yourself, starting from basic traffic and tax laws.
Can someone please tell me how to rent that place for a dinner? And please sharmila I've guests coming over from USA can I get a VIP protocol, NO? Okay a few hundred guards? Please?
sowho stopped the police to visit the site? your govt?!?
People have a right to ask Questions and seek Answers, when Police and Rangers are deputed to provide security to a Private Party
@ Stranger
Agreed.
PPP Democracy is the best Revenge
Commandos on VIP duty. That is the bane of subcontinent. Of course there have been quite a few assassinations also but there has to be some balance.
She is an embodiment of whats wrong with Pakistani politicians. I can go and meet my senators and congress person in US, whenever they are in their constituencies. I can write a letter to them with my problem and they will respond to me with a solution in a prompt manner. My question is did she need to hold such a lavish party when security situation in Karachi is bad
she sounds like a petulant child
@Pakistan: It costs Rs 30 lackh to RENT Mohatta Palace. Where did all this money came from Sharmeele Bibi? 400 hundred guest eating lavish food whereas 400 people dying a month in Sindh of Hunger. Wah ray wah yeh zamana.
Currently Karachi Police from all three zones accumulates to 22,573 personnel and this is minus traffic, investigative and special duty personnel. Is the media trying to tell people that 22k police officers are right now or were concentrated to a single area of clifton, really? police assigned to VIPs accounts to 1675 personnel and even a total of those couldnt be found there now could they?
She is smart enough to understand that it is not her person that is being bashed but what and whom she represents especially the shameless government she is part of............but then thats her choice.
Sharmila has one thing right - she is not responsible for the blast. However she and the Sindh government and the federal government (both PPP) are responsible for lack of law and order and zero accountability! And for showing no support for victims of these terrorist activities. Have these people lost all forms of humanity? In a time when there is major food poverty and unemployment in Pakistan, could members of government not show some sense of form and decency and refrain from spending millions of rupees on lavish entertainment? Furthermore since so many so called petrified VVIPs were attending this function, police and Rangers had to be deployed from all over town to guard them at Mohatta Palace. Shermilla et al can turn around and say that it was a private event, but as politicians and members of government they have a social and moral responsibility to the citizens of Karachi.
@Pakistan: You can rent it for many many lakhs.
Who was she paying rent for using Mohatta palace ?
Isn't Mohatta palace a PUBLIC historic building that, where you can't hold personal events.
Kind of like in India you can not hold your private wedding in the Taj Mahal.
Talk about abuse of power for personal gains.
@sensible: You like her :) So unfortunate for you.. she is now engaged..:P
I think people of Karachi should make a petition in court that the police has failed miserably to provide security and hence, we do not need this department anymore. So all the police members from lowest to the highest rank must be fired immediately as they are taking a lot of govt money which could be spent on any other project. In this way people will be better in protecting themselves and maybe police gets awaken
@sensible: Please go and ask people who have lost families, their home and livelihood, they will tell you what is fair and unfair. Ms. Faruqi is agitated by comments on twitter, now imagine the level of disgust and agitation those people will have who were on the wrong side of city on 3rd of March 2013.
I think it is unfair to bash her.
It's not her fault regarding the whole bomb attack indeed.
However, how do you justify using so many policemen and rangers to provide security for your PERSONAL event?
Sunday is a weekend holiday and terrorist should realise that on this day the police and security agencies are busy protecting our beloved leaders while they are being entertained. And at least the petty people of Pakistan should have arranged for their security on such auspicious day when our beloved leader was throwing a party to celebrate her big day. Apologies Ms. Faruqi, that your party was bit spoiled by deaths of few people, because of their own negligence.
@Pakistan: Rent.. who will take rent from loyal, patriot, upright, honest leaders of Pakistan, you should be ashamed of yourself!!!
Whats the poor girl's fault. She is celebrating with her own money. How is she to be blamed. People simply need something to fingerpoint/ something to hold responsible for some lapses. Please leave her alone.
@saylani: Because they don't have superiority complex like ours!
She is a ravishing beauty !!! plus we should now come to terms with the fact that we are on our own for our security ... forget police !!!
You can't rent it but if you have the pull you can use and pay the govt a token amount. Spoils of conquest.
why our political leaders need huge protection when British prime minister can que in super market to buy dinner for his family .
Dinner at mohatta palace -didn't know that you can rent that place for dinners.
Protection, protection, protection ... she miscued it to personal security.
You first vote these people and then start cribbing about things like this. Sharmila is right here. Learn to reap what you sow.
beautiful lady. she needs protection.