Renowned Qawwal Amjad Sabri was shot dead in Karachi Wednesday afternoon, after unknown assailants fired at his vehicle in the city. According to reports, it seems a gory incident of target killing as two men riding a motorcycle fired shots at him when he was in his car. Police say two riders used 30-bore pistols to shoot Sabri five times, the bullet to the head took the qawwal’s life.
It is also being reported that Qawal was receiving constant threats and has written application to the home department for security, but officials have denied. Indeed he was one of the best qawwals in the country, well known for his trademark style of qawwali inherited from his father and other family members. His family is famous in sub-continent for soul-stirring renditions of mystic poetry. His killing in the holy month of Ramazan is highly condemnable.
Though motive of the target killing is still not clear but some media houses are reporting that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s spokesperson has accepted the responsibility of the attack. Though at the moment it is hard to figure out the reasons behind terrorist attack which killed the famous qawwal, but incident has raised many questions over tall claims of improved security situation in the city. Couple of days before son of Chief Justice of Sindh High Court has been abducted by armed men in broad day light. Growing incidents of lawlessness are a serious cause to worry for the law enforcement agencies; it seems that gains of operation against militants in Karachi being lost. It is high time to not let throw away the advancements achieved after hard struggle.
Increased incidents of target killings have put question mark on tall claims of improved security situation of Karachi.
