On Wednesday, news outlets report that a young man was “brutally murdered” in an extrajudicial killing that took place in Benazir Park in Karachi. According to Express, the man was accused to be a “snatcher,” or a robber, and was arrested by police who then handed him over to Ranger personnel who cornered him and then shot him in the stomach, despite the man’s pleas. The man is reported to be a ‘matric’ student, as well as the brother of a Samaa television reporter, and he died on the spot.
News outlets continue to play the footage of the shooting over and over again on television, which garnered much discussion on Twitter. Ammar Yasir tweeted, “Just watched the Samaa footage and I feel like throwing up. This happened in Karachi, imagine the extrajudicial murders in Balochistan,” while Tammy Haq noted, “Pakistan is a state of anarchy. Anyone can do what they like and get away with it.”
Express 24/7 reporter Shaheryar Mirza (@mirza9) tweeted, “Nothing shocking about this killing. What’s shocking is that it was caught on tape. Rangers have done this countless times before.”
As details unfold, it also is evident that Ranger personnel and police officials previously lied about details of the shooting, previously stating that the young man was armed and that 15-20 witnesses could testify to that. But, thanks to the footage, we now see that he was unarmed. In other words, noted Mirza, they were “caught red-handed.”
Hundreds of people have organized a “peaceful sit-in” outside the Chief Minister’s house in Karachi in protest of the killing. MQM leader Wasay Jalil told Express, “Karachi has seen in its past extrajudicial killings…but the people of Pakistan will lose further confidence in the police…and law enforcement officials.”
CHUP will continue to provide updates of this tragic killing as more details come in, but feel free to share your thoughts and reactions in the comment section.
UPDATE 1745 EDT: Express reported, “Five men from the Ghazi wing of the Rangers are said to be involved in the incident, of whom two have been arrested.” The news agency further noted, “Initially, the police and Rangers had claimed that they were informed that a dacoit had held a family hostage in Benazir Bhutto Park. The security personnel claimed that they went inside the park and asked the man to surrender. When he refused to do so, the Rangers shot at him in retaliation. Shah was injured and died after reaching Jinnah Hospital, security personnel said.” Obviously, that was not the accurate report of the incident.
UPDATE 6/9: According to the Associated Press, Pakistani authorities are now investigating the video “as hundreds of angry mourners attended his funeral.” Here’s the account of the shooting:
It showed a man in civilian clothes wrestling what appeared to be a gun out of Shah’s hand and kicking him toward a group of Rangers. Shah said it was just a toy gun as he pleaded with a Ranger who pointed his rifle at his neck.
“I am helpless,” he said to the Rangers.
The men surrounded Shah and pointed their guns at him. He moved toward one Ranger with his arms outstretched, saying “No, no, don’t kill me brother.” He was pushed back and shot twice in the hand and leg.
Shah fell to the ground screaming and begged the Rangers to take him to a hospital, a longer version of the video posted on YouTube showed. They stood by as he writhed in an expanding pool of his own blood.
Shah was eventually taken to a local hospital but died shortly thereafter from “profuse bleeding,” said Seemi Jamali, director at the Jinnah Post Graduate Medical College.
The really sad part? Rehman Malik claiming the boy was a “criminal,” as if that somehow justifies this killing. Disgusting:
UPDATE 6/9 2000 EST: Another video is out (via Rabayl). So sad and disgusting:
This incident refreshed the memory of Sialkot lynching. There is no justice in sight.
how many of these incidents do v want as a nation, as a human before we stand up to them..or do v want this to happen to our homes then react and take action???….please save pakistan…stand up for justice!! stand up for what is right!!!…let no division come in between justice and accountability…..STAND UP AND TAKE CHARGE PPL!!
I understand the problem, but let’s be sure to keep it in perspective. Brazil, for example, has lots of extrajudicial killings yet is far ahead of Pakistan economically. So, horrific as incidents like this are, I’m not sure it’s especially high on my list of priorities. Which is admittedly depressing about the state of Pakistan.
I see your point, but extrajudicial killings are a pretty serious issue, particularly in Balochistan. Amnesty International just released a report on the issue, talking about the gravity of extrajudicial killings. It’s a law & order issue, which is inherently a fundamental issue. If the citizens can’t depend on the state for security – then who do they ultimately depend on?
Related piece on targeted killings in Karachi (a separate but imp issue): http://tribune.com.pk/story/185317/six-people-killed-across-karachi-in-acts-of-violence/
I think it is sad and uncalled for. It is small things like these that when not stopped that the major things take place. If these small problems are fixed then the biggers ones would be fixed. Remeber these small problems are building blocks for the larger ones
I don’t mean to be too cynical, but anytime there’s armed insurrection against the state, there will be extrajudicial killing. So perhaps more attention should be paid to doing a deal with the reasonable Balochis (stopping land-grabs) than worrying about the extra-judicial killings per se. Of course the latter may make the former harder to achieve. . . .
What news channel (and if not a news channel then for what purpose) is the camera man who shot the video from? Was he involved with this killing–because if he wasn’t, why was he not calling for help?
I just can’t believe it. The original story put out there with the victim being a robber was insane enough—why would you kill a kid for petty robbery? But this footage was just beyond sick. Do we know exactly why the plain clothes policeman (dude in the white shirt who kept saying “ooper dekho” and these rangers were needed to murder the victim? What had the victim done that they were willing to do this?
>What news channel (and if not a news channel then for what purpose) is the camera man who shot the video from?
Awaaz TV.
>why was he not calling for help?
He didn’t want to get killed.
[…] BREAKING: Rangers Kill Youth in Karachi […]
Wasay Jalil loves the word “DEFINITELY”.
no doubt,there are thousands of brutal incidents like these occur i a daily basis,directly by police and the politicians who misuse their power and kill people indirectly.This is done by US Army,Nato who claim they are some Saviors and have license to kill all others who don’t agree to their way of life.Since this brutality is infront of us,not only the Rangers should be punished,their seniors,and their seniors,the politicians.They should resign.But are they gonna do this?No.So just kill the small fish and bisness as usual until we see another brutality on screen.Shame on Pakistanis.Shame on me as Pakistani.May Allah burn us all in hell.We deserve Hell!!
OMG!!!! What the hell is going on?I agreed with fzamr.Yup!!! standup for Pakistan….Its time for youth,join hands to hands and save Pakistan….
I can’t bring myself to watching the video, because as Ayesha says above, it brings back memories of the Sialkot lynching (and I felt sick for days after watching that). Pakistani’s are getting murdered by dacoits, terrorist, mafias, and now by the people who are supposed to be sworn protectors.
Unfortunately, there is no institution we can turn to for help. As with most incidents of this kind, there will probably be a feeble inquiry or a lame judicial commission set up – which is pointless because the court’s decision are not typically implemented.
I don’t understand how our nation can go through so much and still hold on to the ability to persevere and get on with our lives. When will enough be enough? What will be the ‘stick’ that breaks the proverbial camel’s back?
You know, I find this video to be quite disgusting. Is this what our Army doing? That man should have been charged for theft according to the law, NOT for murder. They can’t handle bunch of Talibans in their own navel base but they are quick to kill their own Pakistani citizens. Wow just wow..
The rangers who killed that person need to be trialed and punished according to the LAW.
Its about time the military should be held accountable, other wise I am afraid the military may get out of control and start killing more Pakistani civilians.
By the way, why are we giving our military more than half of our budget?
I do agree why are we giving the military this much budget. They do not fight. They never protect us from other coutries attack. They do not buy the right weapons. It is sad. I also believe that as a nation we need to change. There was time when people used to feel ashamed to be relatives of a person who took bribes now we feel proud. I am ashamed and disgusted by this. All I can say I am sorry for the child. If there is no justice for one then there is no justice for anyone. He was a child he was killed ruthlessly and painfully, one does not even kill an animal in this way. These rangers show no mercy. My only pray for these rangers is that when the time comes no one will show mercy towards their children and them.
In simple words it is a disgusting thing, something which has resulted in a death! I rarely agree with Rehman Malik but here I have to agree that Law Enforcement agencies in Pakistan are at the moment in a Catch-22 situation.
How many countries in the world have RANGERS patrolling the streets on daily basis with G3 rifles slinging across their chest?
Back to the main point, that one specific personnel who shot the man was acting aggressive from the first second, I fear that the camera presence there would have also hyped him up a bit (remember our camera complex?). And worse, he died by bleeding only after a a gun shot wound to his thigh and hand! Why wasn’t an ambulance called for this now injured criminal?
Saman,
Rangers are NOT ARMYMEN. They are the CIVIL ARMED FORCE UNDER THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR and are paid by them and not the Army Budget. I have not seen such reactions when MQM kills indiscriminately.Why? No killings should go unpunished and stop unnecessarily picking on those who you would need always.
Pakistani security agencies are serving their people. This is not the first case. This is the their way our security agencies serve people. The rest of the world should learn from them.
get out of our city Bloody Rangers …
kab tak yeh sab jari rahe ga? jab tak har ghar mein ek lash nhi a jaye gi tab tak ! kya tab tak hum kuch nhi karein gay kya hamari zindagi ki koi qeemat nhi shayad nhi.. mein bhi 17 saal ki hun or jab khud ko us jagah tasawur karti hun to rongtay kharay ho jate hain. Hamare saath masla yeh hai k hum har baat ko 2 hafte mein bhul jate hain.
masla yeh hai k jab kisi teacher ko hukumat se shikayat hoti hai to koi mazdur us k liye ehtijaaj kyun nhi karta or jab kisi masdur k saath masla hota hai to kyun koi teacher us k liye sarkon per nhi nikalta. yeh to khair bohat ziada difference hai yahan to ek hi university mein agar ek department ko masla hai to dura department tak us ke liye ehtijaj nhi karta. jis din ek talib e ilm ek kissan ka masla hal karne k liye ehtijaaj kare ga ya kisi bhi shakhs k i problem handle karne dusra tabqa qadam barhaye ga usi din yeh sab ruke ga kyun k yeh ek qaum ki sift hai hum individually kuch bhi nhi kar sakte kyun k iqbal ne kaha hai k
fard qaim rabt e millat se hai tanha kuch nhi…..
Ahhhh those bloody Americans! Oh wait a second….
Not surprising at all.Killing in the name of crime is just common excuse the law enforcers are used to say.An Bangladeshi student was shooted to disabled by the RAB in day light in front of villagers and family.Ironically when RAB chief briefed the media about the student innocence after the immense critiq from the civil society then some days later our home minister claimed Limon was criminal and limon got bullet in crossfire between terrorist and Rab!God, who will save us from this blood suckers!Rab is responsible for more than 2000 extra judicial killings in Bangladesh after their arrival but none has been punished.Ranger or ISI are not different from rab as they have gun in their hand and teeths of Dracula to drink fresh and hot blood.
I feel ashamed since I have watched this video over the internet. From today I have no hesitation to say that Pakistanis are the ignorant nation of the world. The whole world is silent and every day there are happenings like this in Pakistan. Some of the people may be enjoying peace at their home but this brutal scene is going towards their homes and within few years no one will be safe over there.
I am sure nothing will happen and the ranger’s guys and am confident that no lesson will be taught to them. We should think about that how many killings like this have been happened since pakistan’s creation.
My heart goes out to the family . Question is are our children safe from the protectors and law enforcers, The political leaders only give statements ,views and comments which cannot bring the kid back untill and unless some heads rolled some( bigs heads) all will be forgotten as some new incident will over lap. this one.
Deplorable act by the so called protectors
SHAHEEN
Pakistan neither has changed nor it will change because of prevailing poor judicial system in the country, Chief Justice can not take the suo moto of evey bad happing, therefore people take the law in thier hands even for minor issues
Pakistani ranger is very bad .they don’t think to someone life, I hate them so much, defiantly all peoples in the world will be hate to them, whoever killed to that yang man. I am requesting to the Pakistan government so that Pakistan government see that hardly and dangerously also I am requesting to the Pakistani government so that Pakistan government give to hung to them whoever killed to this yang man. Defiantly ranger killed him unlawfully. In my judgment, Pakistan government should be given to them two type of punishment 1st should be keep them 10 years in police station after 10 years should be hung to them. In this away, peoples and all of the rangers and police can be understand, after kill to someone, what will be happen. I hope that if Pakistan government is honest then defiantly government will be take case hardly.
Though am from India, I feel too bad & low after watching this Video, poor guy he is pleading not to shoot, but those bloody ranges is not bothered to listen, we need to chop those ranger involved in this bloody killing, they are not ranger they are murderers.
If i even get chance to meet those rangers i will chop them into pieces :(, they are so inhumane.
-Venky
My heart goes out to the family . Question is are our children safe from the protectors and law enforcers, The political leaders only give statements ,views and comments which cannot bring the kid back untill and unless some heads rolled some( bigs heads) all will be forgotten as some new incident will over lap. this one.
Deplorable act by the so called protectors
its must b punished them it is shame full act the culprits
aziz advocate
very inhuman and brutal act of rangers ,but dont make the guy hero.after all, he was a snatcher.
Kulsoom, are you serious with the above comment.
I didn’t make the above comment.
I meant, are you serious with publishing the above comment. 🙂
Nice comment by all of my friends over here. I want to draw your attention to one main point ”” This is the result of our doings ”’. Majority of Pakistanis are educated stupids. One of the sayings of an American Senator recalls my memories about the corruption in Pakistan that Pakistanis can even do not mind to sell their mothers for the sake of Money. It had given me a great level of shock when I listened but his saying is being proved by acts like brutal killing of the young.
Just think about and give me an example that “”Is there anyone who wakes up in the morning with a commitment to do some thing for the betterment of the country?”” The answer will be no. Everyone in the government sector goes to bring money to their homes and they consider it their right and does not consider its an illegal practice or a sin because they are protected. No one think about the duty and what is they responsible for?. The more power you have the more chances to mint money and will be popular among masses. That is the reason if someone wants to grab the higher position then he or she is suppose to provide more bribes to get it.
Apart from the aforementioned facts the other main reason of these kind of acts is there is no accountability and the power holders think that nothing is going to happen with them. This is due to police system and lengthy court trial history. From here we can just pray for Pakistani because we have still attachments back home.
(SD ) SD by saying bloody American the problem can not be resolved. Do Americans told Rangers to kill the young? It shows our ignorant institutional set up and who makes these set ups. Pakistanis (does not matter who but only pakistanis). In my opinion the remedy is that pakistani have to change their fortune and no one is coming to resolve their issue because the international community is fed of helping Pakistan and no development has been made yet. Regards
Speechless …. What Pakistan need is a brutal justice. A 24hrs trail and one bullet for all five in head in Public..
Pictures of Sarfraz Shah’s relatives mourning can be seen here. Very tragic.
The last 3 comments referred to someone else’s comment, not my own. Don’t know why you changed the order of comments (comment on June 10 shouldn’t show up after comment on June 11). If you don’t want the comments, you are more than welcome to delete them. Now i must really ask, are you serious with the above comments!
And you can delete this comment too, after reading it. Thanks.
Mohammad, I don’t even know how to “change the order” of the comments – but you were right about the “above comment” = there were a lot of comments on this piece, so I deleted the above one after rereading it.
This was a very disturbing video to watch on YouTube. Words are so inadequate in expressing my horror and revulsion over this senseless and merciless act. My heart goes out to this young man and his family. May this young man go straight to the arms of Jesus in heaven and may Almighty God bring the heartless animals who had no mercy on his earthly life to a swift and sure justice.
This is lawless land. I think the Ranger who pressured the other Ranger to shoot should be shot. Eye for an eye.
[…] is in a state of complete lawlessness and that the policing agencies are abusing their powers (remember the rangers incident) should be enough for people to be clamouring for their rights and peace. But it seems that the […]
[…] TV screens with a video footage which suggested that the youth was unarmed. Kalsoom at CHUP blog broke the news with these words: On Wednesday, news outlets report that a young man was “brutally […]
I watched this video first time, yesterday I am shocked I did not sleep how could a human being be so cruel after shoot at him seeing him dying and no body did any thing. This is a sham I have no words, I am Kashmiri was all time mad with the behave of Indian army but now, I can say they are better after shooting at you kill you but they will not make a videos of a dying person and look how he is begging them as a doctor can say they could have save him they left him bleeding and soon. So painful video.