Marvi Sarmad escapes attack: report

E-Paper | March 15, 2026

Police had registered a case against unknown assailants and different teams had been constituted to find the people involved in this attack.-File Photo

ISLAMABAD: Marvi Sarmad, prominent columnist and human rights campaigner, escaped an attempt made on her life when unknown gunmen targeted her car on Friday night in Islamabad, according to a report published in a local newspaper.

The report stated that Sarmad had been receiving threats frequently from unknown people through text messages and emails. She stated that the unknown gunmen opened fire at her car when she was returning home from work. The gunmen shot twice but missed the target.

Sarmad told the newspaper that police had registered a case against unknown assailants and different teams had been constituted to find the people involved in this attack.

Pakistan

Security forces kill 5 terrorists in Lakki Marwat operation: ISPR

1 dead, 13 injured as Shalimar Express derails after colliding with goods train in Naushahro Feroze: Rescue 1122

PM Shehbaz directs formulation of strategy for exporting surplus food items to Gulf countries

A. K. Ahmed

Nov 04, 2012 01:55pm

are you serious? how do you know she did'nt? furthermore, do you know the state of the pakistani police? its amazing how she gets shot at, yet she is blamed for it.....this state of mind sums up the problems of pakistan perfectly.

Recommend 0

Hussain Naqvi

Nov 04, 2012 12:02pm

Why she did not take threats as serious as she is well aware that being a rightest activist could be targetted. However she must take prexcautionery measures and involve the security providers duly paid with handsome monthly salaries by the state.Although they are duty bound to protect every individual but generally the await till the mishap happens and then they exhibit their effeciency.

Recommend 0

Haider

Nov 04, 2012 06:30pm

AHK, people of your category are a much bigger disaster, myopic brains who suffer from severe lack of tolerance and are directly or indirectly responsible for the killing field that this country has become

Recommend 0

Ahmed Khan

Nov 05, 2012 04:15pm

Here is yet another conspiracy theorist--Zeeshan!

Recommend 0

Azhar

Nov 05, 2012 08:07am

Yes she did, they were working on the case. Are you happy now?

Recommend 0

Zeeshan

Nov 05, 2012 05:44am

totally agree...cursing Pakistan all the day long while sitting in comfy studios is very easy especially when u r being paid for that too. 2 arbitrary bullets fired and we have teams constituted to find the people involved.what a shame!!This is the level of security for hippocrats who keep blaming Pakistan for reasons unknown,while ordinary men who deserve and pay for, are dying like anything

Recommend 0

Zeeshan

Nov 05, 2012 05:49am

What makes u so sure that it is indeed a religious extremist who did that?

Recommend 0

Rattan(Sydney)

Nov 05, 2012 04:36pm

We live in a global world now.If everybody thought like you then why was Malala sent to GB for medical care.It is simply because we all care.

Recommend 0

ishrat salim

Nov 04, 2012 11:24am

when she was receiving threats & text messages...why did she not inform the police who could then monitor these calls & messages.....??

Recommend 0

Somia - Canada

Nov 05, 2012 05:09am

True Islamic republic. Pakistan is more than that already!

Recommend 0

AHK

Nov 04, 2012 01:03pm

I heard two TV chat shows yesterday, after reading the report that she had been attacked. She is a disaster. I do not know how she can even be tolerated. The claim she was attacked has only two possibilities. Whoever was trying to kill her was a novice and could not hit his target despite three attempts, or, it is a staged drama to get cheap publicity.

Recommend 0

KHAN

Nov 04, 2012 01:18pm

SALUTE TO MARVI SARMAD,WHO HAS THE COURAGE TO SPEAK THE TRUTH,KNOWING THAT HER LIFE IS IN DANGER.

Recommend 0

Haider

Nov 04, 2012 06:43pm

There's a famous quote which embodies the spirit of the right to freedom of speech: 'I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend till death your right to say it!' In our great Land of the 'Pure', it goes like this: 'I disagree with what you say, and I will hound you to death should you dare to say it.' Rational thought and tolerance for other's opinion are lost causes in this land of ignorant and violent bigots.

Recommend 0

Syed

Nov 06, 2012 07:30am

Haider, fully agree with you.

Recommend 0

Syed

Nov 06, 2012 07:27am

Zeeshan, You will never be sure of anything, if Malala was shot in the head or not ? if Salman Taseer was shot by his driver for glory of islam ? if the Mulla Hafiz Muhammad Khalid Chishti included Holy Quran's pages to accuse Rimsha Masih ? You will never be sure, unless (God forbid) it had happened to one of your loved one.

Recommend 0

Jag

Nov 04, 2012 04:37pm

Yeah true Islamic Country where 14 year old kids are shot because they want education or a girl who cannot read or write and is mentally challenged is mobbed , sent to jail with planted evidence .... That is country where even animals cannot live without fear ..whats the use of a nation where people live in fear ? wake up everyday without knowing whether they will be shot or bombed ?

Recommend 0

yusufkhan

Nov 04, 2012 11:54am

She is one of the sane voices of Pakistan where dissdence in any form is not tolerated. May God secure her from these extremely condemnable attacks.

Recommend 0

Sy3d

Nov 04, 2012 09:02pm

There you go, bottom line is that you cannot talk about human rights in Pakistan anymore otherwise read the above news again. I don't see Kaira or Rahman Malik commenting on this, Dear Sirs, when you are free from your politics may be you can comment on this as well.

Recommend 0

Malik

Nov 04, 2012 09:26pm

police can not monitor calls in pakistan, i am sure about karachi. i have been there.

Recommend 0

Atta

Nov 04, 2012 10:40pm

Can you believe on security forces. I have we still remember Great Salman Taseer

Recommend 0

saleem

Nov 05, 2012 01:35am

sadist!

Recommend 0

Vasant Deshpande

Nov 05, 2012 02:18am

Marvi Sirmed is perhaps the bravest remaining voice of sanity in Pakistan; uncompromising and absolutely dedicated to the human values in these utterly fiendish times in Pakistan. I wish her well

Recommend 0

amit kumar

Nov 04, 2012 02:43pm

does informing police makes any difference? pakistani police is totally corrupt and inefficient from the core. so nobody is safe even in police's security

Recommend 0

Rowdy Jogi

Nov 04, 2012 02:44pm

We want secular Pakistan. we every citizen have safety and prosperity in common for all citizen.

Recommend 0

Nov 04, 2012 02:46pm

That surely would have made a difference !!!

Recommend 0

Cyrus Howell

Nov 04, 2012 03:07pm

The extremists will go after people in Islamabad or anywhere.

Recommend 0

jaideep

Nov 04, 2012 04:42pm

Marvi sarmad is a courageous lady and i always admire her for keeping her views in a fearless fashion. People Like Hassan Nisar, Marvi Sarmad, Pervez Hoodbhoy, Nazam sethi are last hopes of Pakistan's revival because these all have courage to speak the truth with Conviction, Even if No pakistani will understand their potential, there will always one man here in India who will always appreciate their views and pray for them-May God bless these noble souls.

Recommend 0

Zeeshan

Nov 05, 2012 05:54am

Sharan, why not find any of your countrymen and honour him/her with the same.Nations know very well who is who and what is what for them and need no foreign dictation

Recommend 0

maani

Nov 04, 2012 05:14pm

They are not religious, they don't know religon. They are not even human. Wakeup and fight against these shameless people..

Recommend 0

farrukh

Nov 04, 2012 06:03pm

i agree with Ghazanfar

Recommend 0

Yawar

Nov 04, 2012 12:04pm

That's right, blame the victim and not the animals that tried to kill her.

Recommend 0

Secular Pakistan

Nov 04, 2012 01:29pm

These religious extremists are always trying to silence voices of dissent. The only way they win an argument is not with a pen but a gun. Waht a pathetic bunch. Still no reaction from the religious right??? They are the collborators.

Recommend 0

aftab

Nov 04, 2012 04:35pm

who is marvi sarmad? you have any information wether she is pro pak or..........

Recommend 0

asif

Nov 04, 2012 01:25pm

she did, the police filed it......that file islying at the bottom of the drawer collecting dust...

Recommend 0

ali ahmed

Nov 04, 2012 12:28pm

you should know very well that in pakistan police are only for the protection of VIP

Recommend 0

Razzaq

Nov 04, 2012 01:10pm

A nice joke, I like it.

Recommend 0

Tahir Siddiqui

Nov 04, 2012 01:43pm

Great idea, does it work though?

Recommend 0

Ghazanfar

Nov 04, 2012 03:24pm

thank God she didn't die. Otherwise she would've become a martyr like Benazir. I rather have her live in shame and watch Pakistan rise to a true Islamic republic .

Recommend 0

Sharan

Nov 04, 2012 12:58pm

Miss Marvi, is brave, intelligent, articulate and an asset to her country. She should be held in esteem in Pakistan. Her views deserve prominence. She needs to be protected, her family as well. By speaking out, in spite of threats to her life, she shows the way to her countrymen. Apart from my wretched salute, there is nothing else I can offer from a distance, please accept it.

Recommend 0

Cherian (Melbourne)

Nov 06, 2012 09:09am

I admire her courage and dedication to a cause. Pakistan needs more such souls

Recommend 0

Masroor Durrani

Nov 04, 2012 07:34pm

Vote NO To TALIBANS Pakistan

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Chery Master Pakistan expands nationwide 3S dealership network: 10 operational, 20 planned by 2027

The nationwide dealership network includes 8 dealerships across six major cities, with two additional dealerships launching in the coming month, expanding the network to 10 dealerships nationwide.

Cardiogen and the molecular language of cardiac renewal: A speculative exploration

This article explores Cardiogen’s molecular characteristics, theorised mechanisms of action and its possible relevance across multiple research domains.

Master MoltyFoam’s Women’s Day initiative supports the next generation of female athletes

This year, Master MoltyFoam used the occasion to highlight the importance of support in sports by launching an initiative focused on encouraging young female athletes in Pakistan.