AGONY AND GRIEF IN KARACHI
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KARACHI, PAKISTAN – MAY 13: Relatives of injured and killed cry and wait outside a hospital following a gun attack on a bus carrying members of Ismaili Shia community, in Karachi, Pakistan, 13 May 2015 that killed at least 45 people including over a dozen women and injuring more than 14 people. (Photo by Sabir Mazhar/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images). Photo published by Simerg under a licencing agreement with Getty Images.
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, in an official press release issued on the website of the Aga Khan Development Network has expressed shock and sadness in the wake of an attack on a bus carrying Ismaili members of his community in Karachi, Pakistan, that left 43 people dead today, Wednesday, May 13th. There were 16 women and 27 men among those killed. Other external reports suggest that the death toll was 45.
“This attack represents a senseless act of violence against a peaceful community. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and the families of those killed and wounded in the attack,” Mawlana Hazar Imam said. He noted that the Ismailis are a peaceful global community living in harmony with other religious and ethnic groups in many countries across the world, including in the Muslim world.
According to a report by the BBC (please click for full report and photos) a splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban called Jundullah has said it carried out the attack. The report also states that a leaflet was left at the scene claiming the so-called Islamic State group was responsible. The BBC’s Urdu service editor Aamer Ahmed Khan in Karachi said it seemed to be a well-planned attack.
He said the bus was making one of five daily scheduled trips between a gated community housing mainly Ismailis on the north-eastern outskirts and the main city.
The relatives of some survivors said it was stopped as it was about to enter the city by men dressed as policemen who clearly intended to kill and fled minutes after the assault.
Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper says that a survivor of the attack recorded her statement before the police and said that the attackers entered the bus from the rear portion a few minutes after its departure. She added that the occupants of the bus thought that robbers had embarked on the vehicle. The assailants subdued the driver and separated (two) children from the others, the victims said and added that, “They told the passengers to keep their head low. One of the attackers situated in the rear side of the bus then ordered his associates to ‘shoot every one’ after which they indiscriminately targeted all passengers of the bus.”
We express our deep sorrow at this horrible tragedy and convey our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and the entire Pakistan Jamat and pray for the souls of the deceased members of the Jamat. We pray for the recovery of those who have been injured from this senseless act.
Date posted: May 13, 2015.
Last updated: May 13, 2015, 23:40 (photo added).
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Links to additional coverage:
- CNN Report and Video Coverage
- Daily Times – All Hell Breaks Loose on Ismailis
- Attack on Ismailis a National Tragedy
- The Guardian
Also please see:
Simerg - Insights from Around the World 
Our prayers in unison with our congregation, with other Muslim brothers and Humanity at large for such a despicable massacre.
Reblogged this on Zarina's Weblog.
This is so sad. My heart pains. Ya Ali tu rahem kar ya Mawla tu fazal kar.
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
( In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the Merciful)
Innalillahi Wa Inna Ilayhi Raaji’oon
To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return. (Al-Baqarah 2:156)
Allah pak marhum ne jannat naseeb kare. Ameen rabbiul alamin.
“And He it is Who in the heaven is God, and in the earth God. He is the Wise, the knower” (Holy Quran; Az-Zukhruf; XLIII:84).
Our best prayers for the departed souls and deepest prayers for their families. Ameen
Indeed in the guidance of Moulana Hazir Imam, we are being brought up to a level where the true meaning of educated, civilized and patriotic is matching and its right here. We have being setting global examples in the field of education, mountaineering, engineering, humanitarian, social services and more but the example we set this time of patience, harmony and tolerance, unity and humanity is matchless. I wish and pray that moulana Hazir Imam, give all of us the strength to stand unite in brotherhood and harmony and I pray for those departed souls, Surely they have reached a better place.
Thank You Mola papa: Unny lamanxum mereen phatt aamain ya noor-e-mola shah karim.
Very heinous attack. We pray that the soul of the deceased people rest in eternal peace and the injured recover soon, Ameen!
We Ismailis all over the world are very peaceful people. We are very well educated. In Pakistan most of us are doctors, bankers, lawyers and businessmen. The Ismaili community of Pakistan, like everywhere else in the world, are running schools, nursing homes, charitable organisations, hospitals, universities and many more social institutions. We are always taught to keep away from the violences. We are fortunate to have a leader like Hazar Imam who is doing so much for the welfare of everyone all over the world. We are also taught to respect every religion and every humanbeing. How can people even think of harming the most beautiful community of the world? We pray for the departed souls of Karachi incident where nearly 43 Ismailis were killed without any reason.
Horror beyond words, something common-place now in the world, but comes home to us from this act. We pray for the rest of the departed souls, for the injured and for their families.
Sad day for the community….
Be strong and have Sabar….May Allah curse the killers who are bent on destroying everything Islam ….
this is so tragic and uncalled for as Ismailis been sectarian anywhere in the world and do not intimidate any group or other Muslim factions and to hear about them being killed in such a fashion is indeed very sad. Our prayers are with the families of the victims and for Peace in the world we live in. . Ameen.
A senseless and tragic event. My thoughts and prayers are with all affected. May the souls of the deceased rest in peace. Ameen.