The writer is a freelance writer and translator
While watching events unfold on television at home, on August 15, Mr Khan was horrified (like you and I) and felt that he had to do something about the situation. So he upped and arrived on the scene and asked to be allowed to speak to the terrorist — and incredibly, amazingly, he was allowed to do so.
Mr Zamrud Khan walked on centre stage, passed his hand paternally on Sikandar’s wife’s head, shook hands with his children, then Sikandar himself and then leapt onto that heavily armed man, slipped and fell, and lunged for his legs. Sikandar jumped backwards, fell down, fired his guns and was fired at before he was eventually, mercifully captured.
Mr Zamrud Khan, when interviewed after the event said that his ‘ghairat’ did not allow him to sit back and do nothing in the situation.
Pakistan’s ghairat brigade has to be its most bay-ghairat component. It uses the word honour or ghairat to commit the most blasphemous acts. Maybe it was a similarly flawed concept of ghairat that prompted the home minister to interfere with the job of the security agencies; something he apparently does quite regularly, ordering them to “take the man alive”. I believe that SSP Operations Dr Rizwan is actually the man to be commended because he was doing the best he was allowed to do, under the given circumstances — determinedly calm, trying to persuade Sikandar to lay down his arms.
If Mr Khan’s ghairat prompted him to do what he did, then there are several things that I, too, would like to do and the precedent, set by Mr Khan, must allow me to do them. Please note that it is nothing but the ghairat of every militant that prompts him to circumvent the law and take it into his hands, and bomb/shoot/kill their way towards the acceptance of his demands. No person commits such acts without some conviction, however flawed, and it is only the law that prevents (or should prevent) individuals from taking matters into our own hands.
It was not Mr Khan’s job to do what he did and he should not have been allowed to do it. No matter how dedicated he may be to public interest. He was lucky his actions did not cause serious harm.
It is Pakistan’s unexpectedness, not its capability that makes its enemies eye the country with caution. There is no saying how Pakistan’s cricket team will play, how the Pakistan army is likely to respond and now we have a civilian bumbling onto the scene, with permission and leaving wreathed in laurels? In my opinion, the only reason he cannot be arrested and charged with posing a potential threat to security, is that he had prior permission from the police to do what he did. Mr Khan should, at the very least, be barred from public office for life and be charged with placing public security in jeopardy.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (22)
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Zamurd Khan did the best. Atleast he didnt keep standing like the police there looking at tamasha.
@mukhtar, you make some valid points, particularly about the SOP. The most glaring aspect of this entire case has been the apparent lack of any SOP. Knowing the way things work in this country, I would not be very surprised if there are none. Or if there are, they're sitting on the back shelf somewhere and no one has studied them since they were drawn up. In fact one gets the nasty feeling that even the very high ups in the SC have missed some very important SOPs and aspects of law. But then that's a whole new kettle of fish.
Mirza, Let us put the record straight.Japenese suiciders were sent after detailed planning out of the lot of volunteers who knew would never come back.Stupidity in any form always remain stupidity otherwise it can not betermed as stupidity.Had Police not fired at Sikander he would have killed Zamrud and many others in rage.In fact there was no need of live coverage of a criminal, I am sure SC shall put ban on such coverage.Freedom of press does not start on sensationlism and end at sensationalism, in fact it has negative effect on society.Police should follow SOP if some one does not stop take him on as is practice in most civilized countries. Let us draw a line between rating and national interest
"In my opinion, the only reason he cannot be arrested and charged with posing a potential threat to security, is that he had prior permission from the police to do what he did. Mr Khan should, at the very least, be barred from public office for life and be charged with placing public security in jeopardy."
So as Rabia Ahmed points out, Mr. Khan who acted with police permission and hence cannot be arrested and charged. But in the very next sentence she argues that he should be charged and barred from office. This is simply poorly reasoned and defies logic.
This could be a great case study to draw lessons for future!
where he was when Zardari was looting the country? The police should charge him for taking the situation in his own hands.
Can we also determine what are Zamrud Khan connection with Sikandar?
In our office people are floating around an email where they show Sikandar's wife recieving somethng from Zamrud Khan, with Bakhtawar Bhutto standing behind. And caption saying Sikandar was bodyguard of Benazir's daughter.
So wondering why it took so long for anyone to take him down? There were so many chances...eg...when he went back to relieve himself, with his wife holding guns....
Sharp shooter could have knocked the gun out of his hand. What Zamrud did, SSP could have also done the same, but didnt.
Anyway what ZK did was totally Stupid. He placed himself, the children and the general public at large watching the circus.
If the Chief Justice is appreciating the act. Then God save Pakistan.
Every act of bravery can be seen as stupidity and risky. When one man can close the sensitive part of our capital and security forces keep waiting then if a man comes out with their permission and become a good Samaritan then way are so many against him? It was not planned and a spontaneous act of bravery. Should he surrender to fanatic terrorist like many others? In a country where there are cowards in plenty one act of bravery cannot be called stupidity. Those who laid down their lives in front of tanks or Japanese suicide bombers were stupid?
While it was a stupid move on part of Zamurrad Khan which fortunately did not end in a tragedy, the role of media and anchor persons was most undesirable. A few channels got the lunatic on their live telecast and tried to appease, appeal and negotiate with him. Hardly there was a sane voice among them except Talat Hussain and Imtiaz Gul. It is time that our media shows maturity and inculcates a sense of responsibility and restraint among its 'juvenile' reporters whose enthusiasm often descends into immature emotionalism.
It was act of highest stupidity, thank God it averted an ugly situation.Stupidity can not be termed as bravery.He had no business to go and talk to the criminal without taking any permission.He had no planning just trying to grapple the gun man,he is luck the gun did not fire otherwise he would have paid forbthe stupid bravery. The Islamabad police should register a case against Zamurrad so that such incidents are not repeated in future.
@Blithe: Well can you please clarify what will happen if the honourable CJ takes action against Hamid Mir and Asma Shirazi and also as to how many times the honourable CJ has concluded a case a given a decision when he has taken suo mottos in the past
You still havent told us what were the circumstances. You said he lunged at the terrorist - what terrorist?
Surprised to see a seriously breached security procedure being hailed by a big majority of media and people. This shows how immature or simple we are as a nation when it's time to assess various acts, people, systems or even political parties at the time of elections. While the drama was going on, different sections in the media also talked about live and sensational coverage of event, but nobody dared to stop this irresponsible coverage. Except the delay in carrying out the action, other considerations of authorities for not carrying out any action in which this man can also be killed, in front of his kids and wife are perfectly alright and must be respected. There's no doubt that Zamurad has shown bravery, but it's not all that is required. Zamurad's incapability was evident in a moment when he was down on road and the attacker started firing ariel shots. Zamurad's bravery is out of question, but same is the gunman's mercy that he did not fired directly on his attacker. If Zamurad is made hostage or is killed, there would have been an absolute roar on the same media for allowing Zamurad to enter the secured area. Also if this chap who staged all this drama is killed in first 30 minutes as advised by the "security experts" in the electronic media, the same experts would have been declared this all a grand "sazish" where the "markazi kirdar" has been made quiet as happened always in Pakistan. Killing would be declared as a coward and inhumane, where the security officials life would have been made miserable by people, media and courts. Interestingly enough, the Honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan has praised Zamurad khan for his bravery in this act of taking the law in his own hands.
Rabia, its a sentimental reaction to something profoundly absurd & reflects your superfacial understanding of Pakistan, its society & the reality we're living in. Citizen action to counter lunatics happens the world over. What Zumurd Khan did is absolutely understandable to even a layperson having basic congnizance of social dynamics of order & power. Pls have heart or more knowledge before writing your next piece.
The general attitude appears to be that Pakistanis are cowards....here we have a man who is willing to stand up to evil even at the risk of his own life and what do Pakistanis say?...he shouldn't have done it...he was not trained...it was not his job...!!!! This is the same response that Pakistan has had with its war on terror...it is not our war...we should not fight our brothers...these killer Muslims are not real Muslims..the army blames the politicians and the politicians blame each other....and the result is nothing gets done!!! I applaud the actions of Mr. Khan and am glad to see someone in your country is brave enough to stand up to those who are doing wrong even if it is personally a taking a risk...
Well said!
Those media anchors who are actually singing laurels about ZK would prefer to be done unprofessionally and want Pakistan to be a banana republic .
Hope CJ takes action against anchors Hamid Zmir and Asma Shirazi that acted despicably thorough the episode to get their ratings up.
it is right zumurad Khan should have controlled his Ghairat, but Sikander should have been negotiated by some magistrate, like AC, DC, as it always been the job of these officials even they are suppose to order open fire if necessary. Dr Rizwan was over reacting by negotiating with the culprit.