Tragic loss

Even as we mourn the death of Hamza, we must consider the factors which led to his death.

The killing of 17-year-old Hamza Ahmed is but a consequence of what we have allowed this city, and indeed the country, to become, by not tackling the very real issues that have beset us for some time now. Hamza was shot dead in the Khayaban-e-Sehr area of DHA, Karachi, on April 28. According to reports, he was in the area to resolve a dispute with another youngster, Shoaib. Hamza was accompanied by a couple of friends, while Shoaib had his guard with him. At this point, the narrative becomes confused, with Hamza’s friends alleging that Shoaib ordered his guard to kill Hamza, while Shoaib and his family allege that Shoaib was walking away when his guard got into an argument with Hamza and shot him of his own accord. Since then, Shoaib has surrendered to the police, while the guard still eludes arrest.

Even as we mourn the death of a young boy, we must consider the factors which may have indirectly led to his death, not least the violence in Karachi and the culture of guns and guards this begets. Indeed, it is the threats of kidnappings, targeted killings and rampant street crime that propels some to buy weapons and others, who can afford it, to hire guards to protect their lives. The killing is also a reflection of the fact that for many, the act is simply not as profound and horrific as it should be. For, in both cases, whether Shoaib ordered the killing, or the guard carried it out on its own, the fact remains that a precious life has been lost.

In any event, the guard must be caught, the truth revealed and the culprits punished. The security company, from which the guard was hired, must be questioned about its hiring policies and background checks, along with other assessments that must be carried out before a guard — a person to be entrusted with a weapon and lives of many — is hired. This case should serve as an example to ensure that no other life is lost for a trivial matter in such careless a manner.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2013.