Death for Shahzeb’s killers — a good outcome

The parents of Shahzeb Khan will never see their son again. The death sentence to his murderers is not cruel.

Shahrukh Jatoi and Siraj Talpur were slammed with the death sentence on June 7.  The two other accused in the case were given life sentence. The harsh reality of murder has just taken its form and reactions across the board differ. People are pondering whether or not this really is justice served. In my opinion, it is.

As cruel as it may sound, I not only agree with the decision made by the court but laud its valour to resort to such a decision. Many feel this may be another instance of judicial activitism but this is, unfortunately, justice in its raw form.

Some may argue that the sentence is not proportionate to the age of the defendants, however, what they fail to consider is the proportionality of the punishment to the crime committed. One could argue that our religion teaches us to forgive and maybe a less severe punishment is more appropriate, but then you didn’t lose your son, did you?

I am not married, but the closest I have to kids are my nephews. My blood boils when I hear of them being remotely bullied at school; my heart races when they fall off of a swing or scrape their knees — but this was death. The parents of Shahzeb Khan will never see their son again, they will never hear him laugh or experience life again. I am not this boy’s parent, sibling, relative or friend, but the pain they feel is ruthlessly palpable.



How could I forgive the person who took a gun and brutally shot at my child four times? How could I forget the face of my child when he comes to me wrapped in a white shroud? How could I forget the face of the boys who shot my son and then left him to die in cold blood?

This verdict is not only justifiable, it also serves as a lesson to society. The judiciary does not care whose son or daughter you are, what societal status you hold or how much money you have. In front of a judge, you are on your own — disconnected from all those who support you and you will be held accountable for all your actions. There is no escaping it.

This was a necessity. If either Shahrukh Jatoi or Siraj Talpur were excused for their actions, thrown in juvie or a rehabilitation centre or given a sentence, less severe in its nature, you would have made this nation a breeding ground for juvenile murderers.

Many argue that the main cause behind all this is the upbringing of the child and that the parents should be held accountable in this instance and not the child. However, a death sentence to the children of these parents, is the most direct punishment any parent could be given.

Parents should take this verdict as a warning — your child is never old enough to carry arms or ammunition of any kind and not every Tom, Dick or Harry should be hired as a “guard” to protect your children.

I hope that this case comes as a welcome first step towards disarming the people of the country. Weapons are not toys and lives are not games. Only those of age, with enough experience and training should be allowed to man a weapon of any kind.

You cannot commit murder and then roam about scot-free. This verdict has shunned all opinions that drew the conclusion that the upper class will have an upper hand — sources will be used — justice will be tampered with and Shahzeb will be a name lost in history. It is a lesson served and one that should be taken seriously by one and all.

One life is worth waging a judicial war over. Every life is worth waging a judicial war over.

Nobody ever said justice would be lenient.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 8^th, 2013.                                                                                          

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