Chowrangi

This has happened in Ranchore Lane (Line), Nishtar Road neighborhood, old city area of Karachi. It is reported that three robbers were caught by residents after attempted robbery. The mob, after severely beating the robbers, sprinkled petrol and burnt them alive.

The police were present on the scene. However, the mob refused to handover the robbers, claiming they would be released for a bribe or could easily get bail. In one report, the mob requested police to kill the robbers on spot and on police’s refusal, burnt the robbers alive. They argued that this incident would teach other criminals a lesson.

An ambulance volunteer claimed that the police was standing there unable to do anything and the other volunteers had to wait for 20 minutes before they could take the injured and dead to hospital. “The robbers were lying in a pile on the road and petrol was poured over them,” he said.

The DSP claimed, however, that a police mobile unit on patrol reached the scene and came under fire from the robbers. Two of them died in the crossfire and the third, Babar, was critically injured, he maintained. “Hundreds of people surrounded the spot and wanted to burn the men alive and even tried to attack the police,” said the DSP.

A private television channel representative claims that SHO Nasir Mehmood slapped him when he tried to record footage of the scene. However, the SHO said that the situation was quickly getting out of hand; with only five to six police officers, two men dead and the third critically injured, they had to push the media back to safety.

An inquiry committee has been formed on the directives of Saddar Town SP Ameer Sheikh. “It is not the fault of the police, but we are compelled to apologize,” the DSP added. I wonder why and to whom the DSP is apologizing? Maybe the reason is that his police was unable to save the robbers.

Apart from inefficiency of our police, this incident clearly indicates the mob-rage mentality we are all falling into. In absence of law and order, injustice prevails and public is forced into thinking that they have to take matters into their hands. A common perception is that in Pakistan laws are made for the weak.

We have seen people burned alive during riots spreading after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination and then on April 09, 2008. The government should take heed from this and be wary of these frustrated people when they start marching towards the palaces.

Our media should also act responsibly. Publishing photos of burning bodies can not be taken as freedom of expression. There has to be a fine line drawn somewhere and sensitization should not be done on the cost of moral and religious values.

Source: Image from Khabrain (edited to remove burnt bodies). Thanks to Asma for sharing the news.

Other posts by Kashif Aziz

• Joint Statement of PCA and Zombie_KSA - November 30th, 2008
• ISI Chief summoned to India - November 28th, 2008
• Mumbai Terror Attack Goes On - November 27th, 2008
• Mumbai Under Terrorist Attack - November 27th, 2008
• IDEAS 2008: Arms for Peace and Money for the Military - November 25th, 2008
• Urgently Wanted : Federal Ministers - November 19th, 2008
• GEO TV Transmission blocked in Karachi? - November 17th, 2008
• American meat exporters using fradulent halal certificates - November 14th, 2008
• The case of Khanani and Kalia - November 10th, 2008
• Alcohol Exports Bring $220 Million To Pakistan - November 9th, 2008