Adil Najam
This graphic video of the brutal murder of 19 year of Sarfraz Shah being confronted and shot dead by Rangers – supposedly because he was a robber refusing to surrender – is only the latest in a string of state and societal resort to violence that makes one wonder if we have gone totally mad: Lynchings in Sialkot, disappearances and killings in Balochistan, shaming of protesters in Rawalpindi, vigilante justice in Karachi, shootings over load-shedding in Multan, bombings of shrines in Lahore, slaying of a woman Minister in Gujranwala, slaughter of a Christian Minister in Islamabad, and a culture of anger and a validation of violence everywhere, including and most horrendously by those who are supposed to be the custodians of our safety and security.
We are including the graphic video of the brutal murder of Sarfraz Shah, but after the ‘fold’. Reader discretion is required. But if you can bear to watch it, then do so. Because it is well past time that we stop ignoring the rot that threatens our every pore.
What can one do except hold ones head in shame and sadness, and ask oneself: Have we gone totally mad?
Despite the anger and angst that swells within each vein, I would like to believe that we have not. I still believe in Pakistan and Pakistanis. Maybe I do so because I have no option but to believe so. But more than that I do so because I know that even though the insanity is all around me, there is even more disgust and dismay at this insanity. But it is no longer enough to show disgust and dismay. We must speak up – as so many actually are. And that is because I believe that we still have it within ourselves to rise against and reject this violence. If we do not, then who will?
This is a tragic incident. It is about how the culture of guns can only lead to bad results. I think the guy killing was also not ‘cold blood but someone who in the pressure of the moment became trigger happy as that physical interaction happened. This is no excuse. Instead it is exactly about how those who are given guns have to be better trained. Notice the other ranger and his reaction as the shot happens. Does not seem it was planned, more like gross and horrible incompetence.
I watched the documentary “Taxi to the Dark Side” (available on YouTube) yesterday which presents the treatment of detainees in Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, and Bagram and then today got to see this real life incident. We humans have a beast in ourselves which dominates us when we get into us vs. them mentally. The conflict and the possibility to get away without consequences for our actions make us do things which we would have never tolerated if we would have been on the other side.
Is it just the action of these few individuals on the scene or is this linked to a mindset much deeper into higher ups of these individuals. What I expect that only these individuals on the scene might be punished at any level. I doubt it that any actions will be taken to avoid such incidents in the future.
Although the video is after the fold, please make the warning stronger. Strongly suggest not to watch the video.
We need a much more emphasis and investment on training and education of the security personnel, especially those operating with civilians.
It seems the shot towards the leg were not fired on order of some authority but by one of the overzealot idiot with the intention of immobilizing the boy. I do not think the intention was to kill. It takes only a minimal amount of understanding to know that injuries any of the major artery could kill a person in a matter of minutes.
Also, it is evident that after one of the idiots fired the shot no one of them, not even the cameramen tried to save his life by administering any kind of basis first aid.
This also shows very poor response training. Our country is under the protection of very very incompetent people.
I bet the same alleged robber would not have had any remorse robbing and perhaps even killing his victim!
Just the list of the links you youself give in that first para should prove that we have, in fact, gone all mad.