Rights activist Khurram Zaki killed in Karachi gun attack
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KARACHI: Unknown assailants gunned down social media campaigner and civil society activist Khurram Zaki on Saturday night in Karachi.
Central District SSP, Muqadas Haider told Dawn.com that four suspects riding on two motorcycles opened fire on Zaki while he was eating dinner at a restaurant in Sector-11B of North Karachi. The activist was killed, and two others – journalist Rao Khalid and bystander Aslam – were critically wounded in the attack.
A former journalist, Zaki was an active campaigner for human rights and was the editor of the website and Facebook page Let Us Build Pakistan (LUBP) which claimed to "spread liberal religious views and condemned extremism in all forms".
According to his Twitter profile, Zaki was the former head of current affairs for TV Channel News One, where he looked after Infotainment and religious programming.
Zaki's website Lubpak.com is currently blocked in Pakistan by most ISPs. The site also links to @CriticalPPP on Twitter, which appears to be the official account for LUBP.
Standing up to Lal Masjid
Zaki was last in the media limelight alongside activist Jibran Nasir in a campaign against Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz for inciting hatred against Shia Muslims. The campaigners had managed to get a case registered against Aziz.
In his complaint for registration of the case, Zaki had stated that Maulana Aziz and Jamia Hafsa-Lal Masjid released a video message in which the cleric attempted to incite sectarian hatred and violence against Shia Muslims by blaming them for leading the civil society campaign against him and Lal Masjid-Jamia Hafsa. Maulana Aziz also accused Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and its officials of supporting and promoting a sectarian agenda by trying to concoct false and fabricated evidence against him. He specifically accused an unnamed serving brigadier in the agency, who he claimed belongs to the Shia sect, Zaki had added.
The activist's complaint further stated that such allegations were obvious and deliberate attempts from Aziz' side to malign and divide the national institution on sectarian lines, by fomenting sectarian hatred among the rank and file of the intelligence agency.
He went on to say that such attempts to scandalise ISI falls out of the fair perimetres of genuine academic criticism of the wrongdoings of any state institution as no evidence was put forward to support his allegations.
Rights activist Sabeen Mahmud, who was also gunned down in Karachi, had taken part in the protest against Lal Masjid as well.
'Killed by sectarian outfits'
A spokesperson of Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen (MWM) said that Khurram Zaki, 40, was not only a prominent civil society activist but also a religious scholar who tended to attend programmes on various TV channels.
The MWM spokesperson said they believed that banned sectarian outfits were involved in this gruesome murder.
Twitter mourns LUBP editor's death
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On DawnNews
May 08, 2016 12:45am
Nothing new in Pakistan
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May 08, 2016 12:49am
Told you so. The jahiliyyah brigades strengthened by a deep state fondness for the fruit cake element has emboldened them beyond control. Either that or the chaos agents working for various agendas are out and about. Game of Bones continues in this blighted land.
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May 08, 2016 12:49am
A few weeks ago it was Sabeen's death anniversay. Yesterday it was Rashid Rahman's & today khurram martyred. All unarmed peaceful activists.
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May 08, 2016 12:49am
Neither can the establishment get rid of Lal Masjid group or proxies. Has the situation gotten better with a one sided operation? Answer is no. This is why the USA is saying that not enough is being done and they are now proceeding to cut of funding of 1.2 billion dollars in the last week. If we showed that we nailed the Red Mosque cleric through a mlitary court and his croonies maybe the USA would beleive us but when our own people don't seeing Khurram Zaki's death, then there is nothing that can be done.
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May 08, 2016 12:53am
Thanks to national action plan.
They are busy in search of Indian spies
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May 08, 2016 12:52am
He has been killed on ethnic basis as a karachite,like aftab ahmed was killed 2 days ago..
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May 08, 2016 12:55am
rangers head quarter is nearby where he was at the hotel...they could not save him or else...
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May 08, 2016 12:54am
The operation has been exposed....more than dozens intellectuals not ordinary people killed by terrorists.
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May 08, 2016 12:58am
....and still the government and the establishment mollycoddle people like Abdul Aziz and his like.......WHY ?
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May 08, 2016 01:02am
If you want to leave safe in Pakistan, make sure don't say anything against government or the extremists. Hide your head in sand like an ostrich
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May 08, 2016 01:08am
failure of rangers planning and military + police ops
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May 08, 2016 01:08am
Our country not ready for liberal voices yet. God bless his soul.
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May 08, 2016 01:11am
In our country people those who opposes extremist element are dealt with such response. Terrorist groups sets example for everyone. For this incident FIR should be directly registered against Molana Red Mosque but who will have guts to do it as he [molana] has advocate in the shape of Chaudary Nisar.
That is why I hate PML-N , they provide breading ground to radical extremist groups.
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May 08, 2016 01:13am
You kill one, five more will forward as replacement. The days of religious intolerance is gone. The ghost of Zia shall not haunt Pakistan anymore. The good Pakistanis shall not allow it.
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May 08, 2016 01:12am
When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out.
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May 08, 2016 01:14am
Shame on one way operation!!!!!!!
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May 08, 2016 01:18am
RIP Khurram Zaki... Who is next to be... ???:/
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May 08, 2016 01:23am
Sad news for Pakistan
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May 08, 2016 01:22am
Rip. He was an honored journalist.
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May 08, 2016 01:25am
I have no words to describe the insanity these religious fanatics are spreading in Pakistan , this is another question mark on Karachi operation .
إِنَّا للهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ
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May 08, 2016 01:28am
It seems that our enemy is doing a lot of research work, its not simple terrorist activity. We have to fight a long war and we have more enemies then friends. The worst thing is that civil government has its own agenda and security of land and people is on their least priority.
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May 08, 2016 01:30am
Where is the Writ of the Govt, People are looking at Establishment
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May 08, 2016 01:29am
shame!!
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May 08, 2016 01:31am
RIP Khurram, unbelievably brave for our society.
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May 08, 2016 01:36am
Yet red mosque's firebrand cleric will be roaming freely. Rip.
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May 08, 2016 01:37am
National action plan changes to No action plan when comes against target killers of shia community..
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May 08, 2016 01:43am
Those who speak against facistism , extremism and authoritarian are always the target !
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May 08, 2016 01:47am
Salute to the most courageous man of our times , who took dared spoke up against all the wrongs despite the odds against him. You knew they will ultimately kill you yet you still never gave up.
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May 08, 2016 01:47am
Interesting he named Saudi, US and Israel for controlling extremism in pakistan via extremists.
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May 08, 2016 01:47am
The people at Lal Masjid have responded. Will the government do anything at all?
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May 08, 2016 01:47am
Reality check for Pak... Extremism must be rooted out !!!
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May 08, 2016 01:48am
very unfortunate. This should be thoroughly investigated into and the murderers and master mind should be brought to justice as soon as possible.
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May 08, 2016 01:51am
Police should start their investigation with Moulana Abdul Aziz of Lal Masjid who was very unhappy with Khurram Zaki for speaking against Lal Masjid and accusing Moulana Aziz for helping terrorists.
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May 08, 2016 01:50am
In this law less land the voice of insanity prevails.
May his soul rest in peace.........Ameen.
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May 08, 2016 01:55am
It is time to handover Karachi to the rightful stakeholders and elected representatives and allow functioning of Local governments with elected mayor overlooking the security and development of Karachi with matching powers as commanded by the elected London mayor Sadiq Khan.Please listen to sane and patriotic voices.
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May 08, 2016 01:56am
Very sad - all human lives are precious regardless of beliefs - there are other peaceful way of expressing discontent.
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May 08, 2016 02:18am
Time is running out. People are getting frustrated. Never know that these killers if found by people would meet their fate right there without any courts. Government to initiate pro-active steps to curb this menace from this country. You can't allow wicked elements to roam within the country with guns/pistols to kill any one and walk out free.
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May 08, 2016 03:04am
Pakistan needs a thousand Khurram Zaki to come out of the grips of jihadism. Salutes and respects to the true martyr of Pakistan Khurram Zaki saab. You will be remembered
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May 08, 2016 03:49am
RIP dear friend ,deeply sorry for your family. What you did was really a worthy cause ,but really not worth it. You became the newest number in ever growing list of "martyrs"
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May 08, 2016 04:17am
Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. How come Pakistani leaders keep saying "Things are getting better" when such unacceptable acts happen frequently. Very sad news for good Pakistani people.
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May 08, 2016 04:53am
It is sad day. One by one they are killing peace activists. They can't tolerate any other ipinion than their own.
Sad day
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May 08, 2016 05:58am
@kalhoro May the soul of this great human rest in piece, I can not under stand if people like Maulana Aziz are above the law of the land , agreed politicians are not brave enough to open their mouth but the Army also failed to contain his activties where as we know he was responsible for shahdat of Army Officials and civilians.
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May 08, 2016 06:03am
@Noman Aziz ... ... That is why the average Pakistani does not know the internal enemy Pakistan is dealing with. The average Pakistan does not even consider that the elites themselves may pay target killers for their services, or that the bodyguards of the elite may moonlight as contract killers. "God Damn It Rangers. Clean up the city without killing anybody. It's your God damned job if those target killers kill you. What do you think we are paying you for?" The criminals and terrorists are more committed to freedom than the people of Pakistan. Freedom means responsibility and Pakistanis are running away from freedom at full gallop. People. If you can't manage your lives Islamic State will do that for you. You won't have to make any more decisions. You won't need money or to pay rent. Just follow orders.
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May 08, 2016 06:06am
A courageous, sane voice that spoke against injustice and tyranny fell silent today but not before indicating who would be responsible for this naked crime. We don't find many people like Khurram Zaki in Pakistani society everyday.
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May 08, 2016 06:11am
Very poor state of affairs. Where we are going, this is not Govt job. Their job to make money and live out side lavish life at the cost of poor Pakistani. Security situation is going down day by day. Every educated person is leaving Pakistan due to poor state affairs. Karachi operation going on for the last so many years but street crime graph going up. You can verify my statement with any body in Karachi.
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May 08, 2016 06:12am
How can we be so sure about the culprits without any investigation? Could someone take advantage of the situation so the blame goes to someone else?
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May 08, 2016 06:54am
What a tragedy. This system is messed up.
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May 08, 2016 07:44am
@Laila;
What makes you so sure that USA is against the Lal Masjid fanatics? The extremist element was instrumental in turning the tide against Musharraf and ushering us into the 'democratic' era we currently enjoy.
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May 08, 2016 07:51am
@Salman;
' We have to fight a long war and we have more enemies then friends. '
I beg to differ, our problem is that we can't tell enemies from friends. Less than a decade most of our media was up in arms against general Musharraf in support of Lal Masjid fanatics.
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May 08, 2016 08:15am
The truth is, as long as the state patronizes religious extremism this will keep happening. Pakistan is trapped in its own game. This kind of thing will get you into ten knots by the time you undo one knot. There is no coming out of the trap.
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May 08, 2016 08:37am
How come Rangers claim that there is a great improvement in law and order of Karachi? We are back to square one. Heart bleeds for the death of Zaki..
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May 08, 2016 08:49am
We must be thankful as such massacre was going on daily basis since the last decades against innocence karachites, Controlled from few years due to NAP and Zer-be-Azb.. Voice should be raised across the board not against a single group, agenda...
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May 08, 2016 08:54am
Operation should be across the board, not against a single community, specific sector, so & so. Any how we must be thankful to law enforcement agencies for bringing normalcy in whole country since last few years.As such carnages were the happening of every day.
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May 08, 2016 09:00am
It is time to handover Karachi to the rightful stakeholders and elected representatives and allow functioning of Local governments with elected mayor overlooking the security and development of Karachi with matching powers as commanded by the elected London mayor Sadiq Khan.Please listen to sane and patriotic voices.
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May 08, 2016 08:59am
Khurram Zaki preceded by Parveen and Sabeen. Inhei sabko shanti milei, hey parmatma!!! Bahut badi durghatna inside Pakistan. Akin to Akhlaq's in Dadri in my country on mere suspicion of possession of beef. Halt it and save the good guys everywhere O people!!!
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May 08, 2016 09:19am
Where are we headed? Every reasonable person is killed and no one is doing anything.
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May 08, 2016 09:20am
@kalhoro Totally agree with you
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May 08, 2016 09:30am
You gonna blame America for drone attacks for this latest outrage ?? Sometimes I wonder if Pakistan itself was a mistake!! Ordinary Pakistanis...how about those terrorists who are liquidated by Pak Army..instead of getting a burial...get smoked as a final send-off!! Surely, this would deter potential terrorists from incubating ???
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May 08, 2016 09:56am
done by peace disturbers of karachi well known political party to ruin the outcomes of karachi operation..
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May 08, 2016 10:00am
Sad to hear that. Freedom of press and speech still a dream.
BTW, the person in the news image shown as Dr Sarfaraz Naeemi is not late Dr Sarfaraz Nameei but his son Dr Raghib Naeemi who is alive. Please make correction.
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May 08, 2016 10:19am
Zaki's website Lubpak.com is currently blocked in Pakistan by most ISPs.
Show the state of affairs and mindset in today's Pakistan.
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May 08, 2016 10:18am
I live in Karachi, I know the difference in the situation after the operation led by Pak Rangers . It is much much better here. So do not blame rangers for this crime. Rangers can only do an operation based on intelligence. Police however has far more resources, and links to public. Where is the police? Where is the Sindh government? I don't care if the muder was religious based or ethnic or if it is some private personal issue. A murder is a murder and police has to get out and nab the elements. The Sindh government as a whole, and police department specifically, are just non existent when it comes to preempting the crime. Thanks to the murder of merit, and culture of nepotism by our beloved PPP.
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May 08, 2016 10:34am
@qamar : "shame". Yes sure. But shame on whom ? Shame only on the concerned killers and their group / outfits only ? Or shame...rather much more shame on all those who protect, finance and support / connive with the banned outfits too. It is beyond comprehension as to why the facilitators / financiers are not being apprehended. Choking of foreign funding to terrorists was / is there on NAP points but nothing seems to have been done in this respect.
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May 08, 2016 10:33am
very sad
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May 08, 2016 11:02am
Enlightened souls being killed at the hands of barbaric armed beasts. When will it end?
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May 08, 2016 11:17am
He is killed by same people who killed Shahzad Saleem. I am scared to name them here...
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May 08, 2016 11:18am
Every one stood up to eliminate the killers of this peace full society
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May 08, 2016 11:22am
Todays is the day to raise your voice,before our enemy stop it like KZ.
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May 08, 2016 11:29am
We mourn and mourn and mourn......that's is all we are left with. Licking the wounds with no one to listen to!
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May 08, 2016 11:59am
Just expressing condolence on forum is not enough to push away devils. Need mass protests on streets to get heard.
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May 08, 2016 12:20pm
I don't understand why either side has to go to so much extreme to keep staring controversy and confrontation, why can't people use wisdom and take it easy in a society which is always an edge? Why people want to fix everything over night?
These useless deaths will only stop when people choose path of less confrontation and more dialog and allow each other some space and opinion sharing no matter how different they are from one another.
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May 08, 2016 12:36pm
Thank you raheel sharif, this politically motivated operation is fully exposed.
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May 08, 2016 12:38pm
i don't know how to apprehend these killer . They live among us they are our family ,friend or neighbor . Only perquisite to join these groups are practice Muslim and hate for system and democracy. Pretty much everyone set in this criteria .
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May 08, 2016 12:39pm
Another sane voice shut by those who want to maintain status quo
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May 08, 2016 12:41pm
R.I.P..Mr. Khurram Zaki , we will miss you ever and we know who are your killers.
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May 08, 2016 12:58pm
Now army chief should see why it has happened? As it is very few ray of hope and that too are being made silent.
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May 08, 2016 01:21pm
For how long...?
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May 08, 2016 01:33pm
One step ahead...two..steps back...Karachi & Pakistan need help..the government is busy in its own muddled web..
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May 08, 2016 02:02pm
@ahmef I'm surprised u mentioned !
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May 08, 2016 02:11pm
@Noman Aziz MQM stood against these fanatical forces in 80's but they are being pressurized and asked to lay their arms which they took up in their defense and against these extremist forces but these extremist forces are free to carry weapons and kill any opposing voice with full impunity anywhere in the city
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May 08, 2016 02:10pm
Now, we will endlessly watch pseudo intellectuals condemning the attack on TV channels saying "but" at the end. Time has come to consider all of them "facilitators."
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May 08, 2016 02:13pm
@Baaligh You have said all
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May 08, 2016 02:13pm
why are these murderers not being found that is the question the Sindh CM should be asking. The public should be out on the streets (peacefully) and remove him from office if he is not able to safe guard Karachi.
We must not let these talibanis silence the voice of liberal Pakistan for that is what they want. They want us to all be afraid. Rather we should be louder and more forthright in demanding change and justice.
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May 08, 2016 02:30pm
@Elya until day of judgement
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May 08, 2016 03:13pm
@Muhammad Jamal Day dreaming
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May 08, 2016 03:28pm
Dear Mr. Zaki, the fight for human rights and for a liberal Pakistan goes on.
Please Please God Almighty, let there be some light in my country.
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May 08, 2016 03:39pm
@Israr_Ahmed
You say where is the police. I say where is the local in the police. Where is the local in the administration. Where is the local except among the victims.
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May 08, 2016 04:06pm
Where us NAP. Banned outfit are still freed and innocent schlors are killed
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May 08, 2016 07:00pm
their is a 'legal right' and 'legal wrong' which provides lawyers within a glance the scenario of our jurisprudence. He was following 'legal wrong' worried for those held in a serial killing of 70,000+ innocents and further a million others became physically disabled after sustaining injuries. He should have worked for the legal right by helping provide from state and society some solide monthly pension etc for the disabled but he got worried for those under arrest for doing the heinous crime knowing that state was at war with them. His personal outlook shows that he was keeping a secret forwarding the cause of murders which in normal scenario lawyers do it in our judicial system but in case of internal and external warfare they just work for the legal right without deceiving or paving the ways to save the killers while under target. Law provides for every possible remedy to any one but one can't cross the skull and cross bones sign for own security.
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May 09, 2016 01:58am
We will never forget you Khurram Bhai.
Let us pledge to stand by the voices of humanity, equality and justice, before they are silenced.
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May 09, 2016 08:13am
a prayer for the departed soul!
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May 09, 2016 09:34am
Believe me or not. There is an outside source who is killing Pakistani heroes. Selectively targeting intellectuals and activists. This is to show the world that Pakistan can never be a safe country.
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May 09, 2016 11:02am
@Zak : "Interesting he named Saudi, US and Israel for controlling extremism in pakistan via extremists." Not an iota of doubt about it, as all those who want to know facts are well aware of this fact...except those few who never ever tend to agree to facts / truth due to it being bitter.
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May 09, 2016 11:07am
Rest in Peace Khurram bhai
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May 09, 2016 11:09am
@Muhammad : But who killed Hakeem Said the great ? At that time there were no terrorist groups.
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May 09, 2016 11:26am
Preening over Sadiq Khan becoming London Mayor while killing civil rights activists in their own country and keeping minorities away from top posts! Strange indeed!!
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May 09, 2016 01:02pm
Islam and scientific outlook can not coexist together
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May 09, 2016 02:58pm
Sanctity of human life is unquestionable and KZ's murderers should be brought to justice.
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May 09, 2016 04:51pm
Sabeen Mehmood, Parveen Rehman, Khurram Zaki Dr.Shakeel Auj, numerous doctors, lawyers, engineers killed in "Karachi" only, why ? Did any one hear voices like those mentioned above any where in Pakistan except Karachi ? Whatever be the cost but don not let Karachi move forward because it's the intellectual, political, social, and cultural think tank of Pakistan. Karachi leads by example. It energizes the society. And the rotten and black forces that create, harbour, and use sectarian, tribal barbarians to protect their vested interest and diabolical socio-political system wont loose their grip on Karachi.
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May 09, 2016 06:27pm
@Sachin True, the problem though is that Pakistan had one Zaki and thousands of Lal Masjid type clerics. The government and the society had to systematically eradicate the spread of extremism and their hands off policy on the so called clerics.
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May 09, 2016 06:37pm
It is cowardly and cruel act. Nothing heroic about it.Mr.Zaki was a brave man and the murders cowardly.
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May 09, 2016 08:46pm
Anyone who has seen the kind of congregation during Mamtaz qadri death ceremony, anyone who has seen how Junaid was attacked at airport, anyone who has seen the audiance during the screening of sharmeen obaid's movie who were cheering for the father who honour killed his daughter, will understand how deeply country is radicalized. Jarb e azb is doing just 10% of the work. Ramaining 90% is with modern education.
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May 09, 2016 10:22pm
@ahmef Well said sir
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