Bigotry Even During Tragedy: Christian Sweeper Killed In Karachi Attack Not Being Called ‘Martyr’

Unlike other victims of the terror attack on a Karachi police station, a Christian sweeper who also lost his life in the incident is not being acknowledged as a ‘martyr’, supposedly due to his faith. Initially, the government had erroneously reported that three police officials and one Ranger personnel embraced martyrdom, and avoided mentioning the slain Christian man.

Three militants from the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan stormed into Karachi police headquarters on Friday, leading to an hour-long operation. During the operation, three militants were killed while two policemen, one Rangers official, and a civilian embraced martyrdom.

Adviser to Chief Minister of Sindh Murtaza Wahab had initially said that three police officials and one Ranger personnel embraced martyrdom.

However, when the statement drew ire from journalists for failing to disclose the identity of a Christian sweeper killed in the attack, Murtaza Wahab said that they were not hiding the identity but “considering him an employee of the police department”. Therefore, the statement said three police officials embraced martyrdom.

Journalist Wajahat Masood questioned Murtaza Wahab why he mentioned a civilian as a police officer.

“Who is this fourth unknown martyr?” he questioned.

“Are you ashamed of mentioning that the fourth martyr was a Chrisitan Sweeper,” he asked and added that “the Christian who was killed by the Taliban was my brother and a countryman. I will call him a martyr”.

مرتضیٰ وہاب، آپ نے 3 پولیس اور رینجر اہلکار سمیت 4 افراد شہید ہونے کی خبر دی۔ یہ چوتھا نامعلوم شہید کون ہے؟ آپ کو یہ بتاتے شرم آتی ہے کہ وہ شہید ایک مسیحی خاکروب تھا۔ غلیظ طالبان کے ہاتھوں مرنے والا وہ مسیحی میرا ہم وطن اور میرا بھائی تھا۔ آپ حوصلہ کریں، میں شہید کہہ دیتا ہوں۔

— Wajahat Masood (@wajahatmasood) February 17, 2023

To this, Murtaza Wahab responded: “Wajahat sb ! He was an employee of the police department & we consider him to be a martyr of the police department. Hence 3 martyrs of police, we are not hiding but rather treating him like one of the police fighters.”

Wajahat sb ! He was an employee of the police department & we consider him to be a martyr of the police department. Hence 3 martyrs of police, we are not hiding but rather treating him like one of the police fighters 🙏 https://t.co/styzOJJqZB

— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) February 17, 2023

News Desk

Unlike other victims of the terror attack on a Karachi police station, a Christian sweeper who also lost his life in the incident is not being acknowledged as a ‘martyr’, supposedly due to his faith. Initially, the government had erroneously reported that three police officials and one Ranger personnel embraced martyrdom, and avoided mentioning the slain Christian man.

Three militants from the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan stormed into Karachi police headquarters on Friday, leading to an hour-long operation. During the operation, three militants were killed while two policemen, one Rangers official, and a civilian embraced martyrdom.

Adviser to Chief Minister of Sindh Murtaza Wahab had initially said that three police officials and one Ranger personnel embraced martyrdom.

However, when the statement drew ire from journalists for failing to disclose the identity of a Christian sweeper killed in the attack, Murtaza Wahab said that they were not hiding the identity but “considering him an employee of the police department”. Therefore, the statement said three police officials embraced martyrdom.

Journalist Wajahat Masood questioned Murtaza Wahab why he mentioned a civilian as a police officer.

“Who is this fourth unknown martyr?” he questioned.

“Are you ashamed of mentioning that the fourth martyr was a Chrisitan Sweeper,” he asked and added that “the Christian who was killed by the Taliban was my brother and a countryman. I will call him a martyr”.

مرتضیٰ وہاب، آپ نے 3 پولیس اور رینجر اہلکار سمیت 4 افراد شہید ہونے کی خبر دی۔ یہ چوتھا نامعلوم شہید کون ہے؟ آپ کو یہ بتاتے شرم آتی ہے کہ وہ شہید ایک مسیحی خاکروب تھا۔ غلیظ طالبان کے ہاتھوں مرنے والا وہ مسیحی میرا ہم وطن اور میرا بھائی تھا۔ آپ حوصلہ کریں، میں شہید کہہ دیتا ہوں۔

— Wajahat Masood (@wajahatmasood) February 17, 2023

To this, Murtaza Wahab responded: “Wajahat sb ! He was an employee of the police department & we consider him to be a martyr of the police department. Hence 3 martyrs of police, we are not hiding but rather treating him like one of the police fighters.”

Wajahat sb ! He was an employee of the police department & we consider him to be a martyr of the police department. Hence 3 martyrs of police, we are not hiding but rather treating him like one of the police fighters 🙏 https://t.co/styzOJJqZB

— Murtaza Wahab Siddiqui (@murtazawahab1) February 17, 2023

News Desk