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?
Yeh jo dehshat gardi hai,
Iss ke peche wardi hai!
Why was he trying to hold the soldier’s gun? any clues?
why isnt it that everyone is a mobile snatcher?
Lets assume same had happened in USA. What would have police done? what would have army done?
Why is this un-stoppable army bashing coming along? they have been handed over to police and investigation has started, now wait for the justice system to bear the fruit.
Again, America and NATO have killed countless “youths” every day in Pakistan. Has media covered them? has Pakistaniat written about them daily? Has anyone even moved from their computer to check whether that “Youth” even tried to steal a mobile even once in a life time?
Has anyone tried to figure out the income levels of that “youth” in the tribal areas?
Lets be rational here. A tragedy has happened, its a mistake, a grave mistake, so let the judicial system play its role now.
What ever the story was behind this incident,whether the guy was a thief or a snatcher,whoever was he,there were no rights what so ever with anyone to kill someone brutally on the street.Rangers and police are for the security and not for the killing of people.all of these personnel who were being spotted in this video should be hanged to death.
Some asked what MAJBOORI he had to snatch a mobile? May be we can find the answer to this question in the administration of Umar ibn-e-Khattab (RA) who had suspended the punishment for stealing (cutting the right hand) during the time of acute draught in Madinah.
Poverty, illiteracy, corruption (making life better for elite and hell for mediocre & poor), power shortage (diminishing economic growth and employment while increasing personal and family tensions due to lack of sleep) and, above all, a city in control of a mafia (making access to all types of weapons as easy as chocolate)…. A perfect recipe for rampant petty crimes like mobile snatching.
Some of you making it sound like this only happens in Pakistan. Just let this be a lesson for thieves and thieves to be.
For once in my life I witnessed justice done my Pak police…well in Paki styles that is. If the Pakistani courts had it their way, this guy would have been old by the time he could get a trial.