17-year-old boy killed allegedly by student’s guard

Hamza and Shoaib were reportedly trying to resolve a dispute over a girl.


Faraz Khan April 27, 2013
Hamza and Shoaib were reportedly trying to resolve a dispute over a girl.

KARACHI:


In what started off as peace talks to resolve an alleged love triangle, 17-year-old Hamza Ahmed, was shot dead allegedly by the guard of a student, Shoaib, on Saturday in Khayaban-e-Seher of the Defence Housing Authority.


According to reports, Shoaib, a student at Bay View High, was harassing Hamza’s girlfriend, M*, who goes to the same school. The cousin of the deceased said that both the boys had been fighting for a long time but would settle the matter before things got out of control.

He also alleged that Shoaib used to call and threaten the deceased.

On Saturday, however, they decided to meet each other and settle the matter once and for all, he said.

Hamza was accompanied by two friends and Shoaib arrived with a friend and his guard, Amal, outside the Downtown Café. Hamza’s friends told The Express Tribune that boys were talking calmly initially, but soon after, things got heated. They said that Hamza slapped Shoaib first after which the latter told his guard to kill him. The guard reportedly used his 9mm pistol to shoot Hamza four times, killing him on the spot.

The friends said that Shoaib, his guard and the friend escaped immediately.

After the murder, the police conducted a raid at Shoaib’s house but could not find anyone. They managed, however, to seize the weapon which was used to kill Hamza. The police finally managed to talk to the family who surrendered shortly. The police said that they are still trying to locate the guard.

“I have no idea what happened. I never harassed M and that is why I wanted to resolve the dispute with Hamza,” said Shoaib. “When Hamza slapped me, I walked away but my guard got into a fight with him. They both started having a heated argument and swearing at each other after which I heard firing. Whether my guard shot him by mistake or intentionally, I cannot say for sure.”

Shoaib’s father, Naveed Ahmed, who runs a business of leather goods, said that it was not his son’s fault and only the guard should be held responsible. “I hired security from a private company only a few months ago as I was receiving threats. I only wanted extra security for my family since the law and order situation in the city is so bad.”

Hamza’s father, Talib Suhail Ahmed who is also a businessman, made it clear that he wanted to hold the guard and Shoaib accountable.

“It was an act of terror - even if the guard killed him, they should both be held responsible,” he said. “Shoaib should not be let off the hook by simply putting all the blame on the guard.” He registered an FIR at the police station, naming Amal and Shoaib, as the main suspects.

Investigation

SSP Nasir Aftab said that their main concern was to arrest Shoaib. “We have Shoaib in our custody and also the weapon which was used. We are trying to get the CCTV footage so that we know exactly what happened,” said the official. “We will investigate Shoaib, Hamza and even the girl individually. We will look at their call records and also interrogate them and their acquaintances.

Police have also contacted the private security company for details of the guard.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (63)

th!nk | 10 years ago | Reply

@Raja: If you know of a witness, the right and honorable thing to do would be to contact the victim's family or their attorney. They are searching for the truth. You and your friend who is a witness will have swaab for standing up for the truth. In the name of truth and Justice.

Taha | 10 years ago | Reply

@Raja: Who is this eyewitness?

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