In response to the recent firing incident in the Washbod area of Panjgur, the sisters of the deceased Bahar Shafi, Ishrat Shafi and Shabana Shafi held an emergency press conference along with other women from the family. They informed the media that on the night of April 7, unknown armed men in a vehicle opened fire, killing Bahar Shafi, son of Shafi Muhammad, and injuring three other young men from their family Shahid Zakir, Farhan Sattar, and Suhail Sharif. All three are currently battling for their lives in Karachi.
They said that this incident has not only devastated their family but has also left the entire local community in deep shock and fear. “We are distressed and in immense pain. We have no personal enmity with anyone, nor have we ever harmed anyone”.
They further added that this is not the first such incident for their family. In the past, several young men from their family have been deliberately targeted and martyred and many have been forcibly disappeared. One of their family members has been missing for years. At the same location where the recent attack occurred, Dr. Jumma, a well-respected local doctor, was gunned down in broad daylight a few years ago. Their cousin Naeem Jan also lost his life at the hands of unknown assailants.
They expressed their grief, saying, “We don’t know what kind of enmity this is that just doesn’t end. What message do they want to send by inflicting such brutality on our family?”
They stated that through this press conference, they want to convey that their entire family was peaceful yesterday and remains peaceful today. “Who are these unknown people subjecting us to such pain and trauma? These tragic incidents have deeply wounded our family and the lives of our remaining young men are in serious danger.”
They concluded by saying, “In the state we live in, it is the state’s responsibility to protect our lives and property. The state must either provide us with protection or identify and bring to justice those responsible for attacking and martyring our youth.”
They also expressed their gratitude to social media, saying, “We are thankful to social media, which has become our voice and is conveying our pain and suffering to the world.”
