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Karachi Protests Continue Nightly Demanding Justice for Murdered Man
🇵🇰 Pakistan /Crime & Justice

Karachi Protests Continue Nightly Demanding Justice for Murdered Man

From Dawn · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Protests demanding justice for the murder of Mir Raza Ali continue nightly in Karachi, Pakistan, three weeks after his death.
  • Family, friends, and citizens gather on Sharea Faisal, blocking the road and vowing to persist until the killers are arrested.
  • The identity of the perpetrator(s) remains unknown, fueling the ongoing demonstrations.

For three consecutive weeks, the streets of Karachi have witnessed nightly protests demanding justice for the murder of Mir Raza Ali. His family, friends, and concerned citizens have transformed a section of Sharea Faisal into a focal point for their demonstrations, vowing to continue their actions until those responsible for his death are apprehended.

Mir, hum sharminda hain, tere qatil zinda hain

— ProtestersA chant during the nightly protests in Karachi demanding justice for Mir Raza Ali, translating to 'Mir, we are ashamed, your killers are still free.'

Mir Raza Ali's body, bearing a gunshot wound, was discovered on July 29 in a desolate area of Gulistan-i-Jauhar. More than 26 days have passed since the murder, yet the identity of the killer or killers remains unknown. This lack of progress in the investigation has compelled civil society members to take to the streets daily.

The Nursery bus stop has become the central gathering point, marked by a large banner proclaiming 'Justice for Mir Raza.' The protesters, a diverse group including Raza's family, friends, and people of various ages and backgrounds, are demanding the arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved. On a recent Saturday night, a significant number of participants blocked both lanes of Sharea Faisal, staging a sit-in that lasted until the early hours of Sunday.

Allah ka qanoon hai, khoon ka badla khoon hai

— SpeakersA slogan raised during the protests, translating to 'It is Allah’s law; blood must be avenged with blood.'

During the protests, participants engage in collective expressions of defiance and solidarity, using clapping and chants to create a powerful atmosphere. Some hold placards with messages like 'Justice for Mir Raza,' while others explain the protest's history to newcomers. Speakers address the crowd from a makeshift stage, keeping Raza's memory alive and framing his killing not just as a personal tragedy but as an attack on the aspirations of Karachi's youth. Chants like 'Mir, we are ashamed, your killers are still free' and 'It is Allah’s law; blood must be avenged with blood' echo through the night, underscoring the protesters' deep sense of grievance and resolve.

Zinda hai Mir, zinda hai; bhaiyon ki shakal mein zinda hai, beton ki shakal mein zinda hai; zinda hai Mir, zinda hai

— ChantsChants expressing that Mir Raza Ali lives on, heard during the Karachi protests.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dawn in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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