AP photo
By
Waqar Haider
Another big name in Pakistan has been assassinated. The melodious voice of Amjad Sabri has been silenced, having been shot dead by gunmen in Karachi.
On Wednesday evening the renowned and famous Qawwali singer Amjad Sabri was shot dead in the Liaqatabad area of Karachi. Amjad Sabri was gunned down en route to the studio of a private television channel where he was to take part in an Iftar transmission.
Amjad Sabri
Reportedly two bullets fatally injured Sabri with one penetrating the forehead and the other his chest. More than ten bullets were fired on Sabri’s vehicle by four terrorists.
Following the shooting the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack on Amjad Sabri, saying they had killed him “for blasphemy.”
Police described the killing as “targetted” and as “an act of terror” and, in assocation with other law enforcement agencies, are searching for the killers.
This was the second major activity by criminals in the city of Karachi this week. On Monday, the Sindh High Court Chief Justice’s Son was kidnapped. Both criminal activities place a large question mark on the Sindh government, Police and Law enforcement agencies.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif initiated an operation in 2013 in conjunction with the Pakistan Rangers and gave them complete autonomy to strike and eliminate any potential threats in Karachi. During the first phase of the operation, around 9,000 criminals were arrested following 677 raids.
Pakistan Rangers – AP photo
A high-level apex committee meeting chaired by the Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif on May 14, 2015 decided to implement effective policing and surveillance in the “vast suburbs of Karachi” to prevent what the military spokesperson said were “sneaking terrorist attacks.”
The Operation is ongoing but there is a considerable amount still to do in order to stop these kind of terrorist activities. The Government however perhaps needs to start an Operation against theoretical mentality.
Rumi cries. The world has lost another iconic great mind, body and spirit. My condolences to his family, friends, colleagues, fans. This is sobering and shattering.