Follow-up September 2013: The family that lost 17 people in minutes
The former school watchman’s face screws up in pain as he recalls the names of his deceased kin
SHABQADAR:
Sartaj Khan, the head of the family that lost 17 loved ones in last year’s horrific car bombing in Qissa Khwani Bazaar sits in his guest house describing the events of the doomsday that still haunts him.
The former school watchman’s face screws up in pain as he recalls the names of his deceased kin. Sartaj lost his wife, two daughters, a son, a daughter-in-law and two grandsons in the tragedy.
Bahar Khan, the driver of the vehicle Sartaj’s family was in, was also a relative as was the vehicle cleaner Sohrab Khan. The remaining people who died belonged to his sister’s family, and including her daughter-in-law and grandson.
While Sartaj Khan was talking to The Express Tribune, his son Mamraj Khan joined him. The daily wage labourer remembered the day when the bodies were brought to their house. Mamraj recalled that the only female member left at the house was his younger sister. She lost consciousness at the sight of the disfigured and burnt bodies of loved ones who had left for a merry shopping trip just hours ago.
Not a day passes by without those scenes flashing through my memory, said Mamraj.
One terrible day
On a quiet Sunday, Peshawar’s historic Qissa Khwani market witnessed yet another deadly bombing on September 29 last year. A car parked outside a hotel and packed with around 200kg of homemade explosives exploded at 11:10am.
Artillery shells and phosphorus was also used in the attack, hence the destruction was vicious and most of the shops and vehicles around the blast site caught fire instantly. The marketplace was crowded and the blast killed over 40 people, 17 of which belonged to Sartaj Khan’s unfortunate household.
One wedding and many funerals
Around this time last year, Sartaj’s family was preparing for the wedding of one of his sons Dilraj Khan. According to Sartaj, his family had gone to Peshawar to shop and distribute wedding invites. The family’s vehicle pulled up at a famous ice cream parlour in the market when the bomb went off.
Subsequently Dilraj’s wedding too was a unique one, said Sartaj. Having lost most of its members, the barat arrived at the bride’s house with everyone crying for their loss, recalled Sartaj. The ceremony seemed like a funeral to us, he added.
For the sake of a child
Sartaj’s son Malak Taj who serves in the armed forces lost his wife and two sons in the attack. He remarried later for the sake of his infant son Hamza.
While Sartaj was narrating Hamza’s activities at the nearby kindergarten, the child returned from school and greeted his grandfather warmly.
If words could heal
According to Sartaj, the provincial government had announced Rs0.5 million as compensation for every deceased which it had paid, however, no other government or non-government organisation extended a helping hand to the affected families. All they received were announcements and sympathies, he said.
He added Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had announced Rs50 million for his family during a programme held at Governor House, Peshawar and many NGOs had also visited them and vowed their support but nothing came out of those announcements.
Sartaj claims a local leader of the Qaumi Watam Party came to his help in the time of distress and continues to support his family even today.
With time, militant attacks such as the Qissa Khwani bombing might fade away from people’s memory but life in households like that of Sartaj will never be the same.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 29th, 2014.
Sartaj Khan, the head of the family that lost 17 loved ones in last year’s horrific car bombing in Qissa Khwani Bazaar sits in his guest house describing the events of the doomsday that still haunts him.
The former school watchman’s face screws up in pain as he recalls the names of his deceased kin. Sartaj lost his wife, two daughters, a son, a daughter-in-law and two grandsons in the tragedy.
Bahar Khan, the driver of the vehicle Sartaj’s family was in, was also a relative as was the vehicle cleaner Sohrab Khan. The remaining people who died belonged to his sister’s family, and including her daughter-in-law and grandson.
Artillery shells and phosphorus was also used in the attack, hence the destruction was vicious. PHOTO: MUHAMMAD IQBAL/EXPRESS
While Sartaj Khan was talking to The Express Tribune, his son Mamraj Khan joined him. The daily wage labourer remembered the day when the bodies were brought to their house. Mamraj recalled that the only female member left at the house was his younger sister. She lost consciousness at the sight of the disfigured and burnt bodies of loved ones who had left for a merry shopping trip just hours ago.
Not a day passes by without those scenes flashing through my memory, said Mamraj.
One terrible day
On a quiet Sunday, Peshawar’s historic Qissa Khwani market witnessed yet another deadly bombing on September 29 last year. A car parked outside a hotel and packed with around 200kg of homemade explosives exploded at 11:10am.
Artillery shells and phosphorus was also used in the attack, hence the destruction was vicious and most of the shops and vehicles around the blast site caught fire instantly. The marketplace was crowded and the blast killed over 40 people, 17 of which belonged to Sartaj Khan’s unfortunate household.
One wedding and many funerals
Around this time last year, Sartaj’s family was preparing for the wedding of one of his sons Dilraj Khan. According to Sartaj, his family had gone to Peshawar to shop and distribute wedding invites. The family’s vehicle pulled up at a famous ice cream parlour in the market when the bomb went off.
Subsequently Dilraj’s wedding too was a unique one, said Sartaj. Having lost most of its members, the barat arrived at the bride’s house with everyone crying for their loss, recalled Sartaj. The ceremony seemed like a funeral to us, he added.
For the sake of a child
Sartaj’s son Malak Taj who serves in the armed forces lost his wife and two sons in the attack. He remarried later for the sake of his infant son Hamza.
While Sartaj was narrating Hamza’s activities at the nearby kindergarten, the child returned from school and greeted his grandfather warmly.
If words could heal
According to Sartaj, the provincial government had announced Rs0.5 million as compensation for every deceased which it had paid, however, no other government or non-government organisation extended a helping hand to the affected families. All they received were announcements and sympathies, he said.
He added Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had announced Rs50 million for his family during a programme held at Governor House, Peshawar and many NGOs had also visited them and vowed their support but nothing came out of those announcements.
Sartaj claims a local leader of the Qaumi Watam Party came to his help in the time of distress and continues to support his family even today.
With time, militant attacks such as the Qissa Khwani bombing might fade away from people’s memory but life in households like that of Sartaj will never be the same.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 29th, 2014.