Feudal lords on Karachi streets

E-Paper | June 13, 2026

ONE always comes across political leaders chanting slogans against feudalism, especially in Karachi where the image and reputation of the Sindhi-speaking chunk is constantly being dented and all are considered waderas. This wadera mindset prevails, and the recent cold-blooded murder of Shahzaib Khan on a DHA street in Karachi on the day of his sister’s valima proved that.

What was the 20-year-old’s crime? Was it that he saved his sister from harassment by a drunkard servant of those waderas? Was it because his father is an honest police officer? It is a grave situation. I appeal to the Chief Justice to ensure that these beasts are punished before they flee to some other country.

ZEESHAN HYDER SHAH Sehwan Sharif

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Ali

Jan 07, 2013 09:00pm

Can someone please also raise voice against the Feudal excesses in interior of Sindh. Why are we leaving all poor Sindhis in interior Sindh at their mercy?

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Zahid

Jan 08, 2013 05:48am

All who can run are running away. You can't change this place. I left UK after 30 years to come here. I am leaving again after 4 years of pure misery. Average Pakistani can't change. They are responsible for their situation and condition of this otherwise a beautiful country.

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Imtiaz Bhutto

Jan 07, 2013 01:23am

Can we please not turn the Shahzeb Khan case into a linguistic issue. I think after 65 years of independence the "Sindhi-speaking chunk" should have matured enough not to play the victim card anymore.

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Yousuf Ahmad

Jan 07, 2013 12:23pm

The accused is an Aitchisonian and is studying in Australia - this very well suggests that the mindset inherited is so strong that even good education did not make any impact. I disagree with some regarding the Sindhi and Wadera comments, living in Karachi, you frequently come accross non Sindhi "influentials" who have the same mindset - their modus operandi may be different but the end result is the same and as ruthless What we need is rule of law. With the politisizing of Police and selling of the "thana", this opperession will never end. We may glorify in providing justice to Shahzaib - But we will not be able to help hundreds of Shahzaibs lost to this merciless and unjust system

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fahdabbasy

Jan 08, 2013 05:53am

aptly said.. streets of Karachi are filled with big shots and their kin flaunting guns and personal guards and treating every ordinary citizen on street as slaves.. the chief justice must use this case to set an example for all such so called affluent criminals.. and all gun show and personal guards should be completely banned and law breakers severely penalised

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Yousuf Ahmad

Jan 07, 2013 12:27pm

you mean runaway, and leave behind millions of people - our own people on the mercy of these barbarians. It we the educated people who have never taken any stand and kept running away. We are as much responsible of the situation as the criminals

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Khanm

Jan 07, 2013 04:58am

Move to a civilized country. dont expect justice in pakistan. Remember justice delayed is justice denied.

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Gerry D'Cunha

Jan 07, 2013 07:26pm

This wadera mindset prevails for 65 years in pakistan - as a DSP's son, don't one think that he would have used his father's influence in one way or the other with his less influence.......

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Anony

Jan 07, 2013 07:20pm

I couldn't agree with u more.

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Nazir K Ali

Jan 07, 2013 06:06am

ZEESHAN HYDER SHAH Sehwan Sharif Sir, your heart is in the right place and it is gratifying to know that there are good people like you around to call for justice and righteousness. Please accept my Salams.

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Syed

Jan 08, 2013 02:09am

It is not a linguistic issue but a cultural mindset of the feudal. Unfortunately they happen to speak sindhi, baloch and pushto and they are in abundance in karachi - especially clifton / defence. They need to be taught a lesson and it is time now or go back to where they came from.

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G.A.

Jan 07, 2013 01:39am

It's a clash of cultures. The crude, male-chauvinists from backwaters of Pakistan coming into contact with a young, urban and enlightened, computer-savvy generation. The former, every ready to settle scores in their primitive ways through violence have applied this in the city against a young, educated man. Only if these brutes knew the power of social media.

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Muhammad Ahmed

Jan 07, 2013 11:03pm

This was an act of sick individuals and should be considered as such. There is no mindset called Aitchisonian and majority of students these days actually belong to middle class. Based on his father's account he barely spent 4 years there and then moved to Australia. I think stereotyping waderas, aitchisonians and anyone is part of the problem. We probably need some serious land reforms to ensure proper rights are provided to people who are shackled by such system. Shahzeb's sacrifice should not go in vain and we should all strive for reform and learn to stand up for our rights.

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Afaq

Jan 08, 2013 04:05am

It is Feudal lords and that system eating us even they are dividing us on ethnic line. But Ordinary Pakistani of different ethnic background do not feel that.

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Anis Zuberi

Jan 08, 2013 10:36pm

I am sorry you can not change a feud. A feudal is a feud and remains a feudal. Oxford and Harvard Universities failed to change their mindset. Look at Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. I am lucky that I left that unfortunate country 40 years ago. I have no regrets at all. It is the creation of Pakistan that these waderas were able to protect their privileges. This country was created for them. I wish a confederation between India and Pakistan. That is the only solution of our "Wadera Shahi" and "Mulla Shahi". Islam is in danger in Pakistan not in India. Good luck my Pakistani brethren Anis Zuberi

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Zeeshan hyder shah

Jan 10, 2013 08:21pm

Sir Thanks alot for the encouragement...

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