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Ever since Shahzeb Khan’s unfortunate death in 2012, people of Karachi have talked about how these VIP protocols and gun/guard culture should be banned from the city completely. Five years later, many other teenagers have sacrificed their lives due to the lack of policy implementation in the metropolitan city.
On Saturday morning, 4 young A-level students were cruising in Karachi’s Phase-8, when fate brought them in front of Khawar Burney, the man who murdered 18-year-old Zafir Zuberi.
Zafir was shot at multiple times, with the bullet that pierced his heart proving fatal. One of Zafir’s friend, who was inside the silver Mercedes which was targetted, revealed shocking details of the incident to his friends and family. Irham Rahim said that while the perpetrators shot at their car, Zafir pushed him down on the seats while the shooting was going on.
Zafir turned into a human-shield for Irham, which saved his life and proved fatal for young Zafir. During his guard, Zafir took a bullet to his ribs which pierced his fragile heart. Irham said that had Zafir not covered him, it would be him who would have died instead.
Friends and family are lighting candle-light vigils for Zafir in Karachi, paying an ode to his great sacrifice. People who knew him say that he was a kind-hearted soft-spoken boy who knew how to give and take respect. They are calling him a hero, a hero who gave his life to save his friend.
Only time will tell what would happen to Khawar Burney. However, one thing is for sure, that nothing can bring Zafir back. For now, people close to him are demanding just one thing, which is #JusticeForZafir.
