The recent death of Shahzad, a citizen of the State Jammu and Kashmir, in Karachi, Pakistan, has once again brought to light the grim reality of human rights violations in the region. Shahzad, a resident of Gilgit-Baltistan, was not merely a statistic; he was a son, a friend, and a caregiver to many. His untimely demise under suspicious circumstances raises serious concerns about the protection of human rights and the accountability of authorities in Pakistan.
Shahzad's tragic story is emblematic of a broader pattern of violence and impunity that continues to plague communities in Pakistan. His family's agonizing search for answers, coupled with the evasive behavior of law enforcement officials, underscores the urgent need for justice and reform.
The sequence of events surrounding Shahzad's death paints a troubling picture of negligence and possible foul play. Despite his disappearance being reported promptly by his family, the authorities failed to conduct a thorough investigation. Instead, they resorted to obfuscation and misinformation, initially claiming Shahzad's death was the result of a fall or a motorcycle accident.
However, the presence of suspicious wounds on Shahzad's body, indicative of a violent attack with a sharp object, contradicts the authorities' narrative of accidental death. Moreover, the deliberate concealment of Shahzad's identity from his relatives and the inconsistencies in the police report raise serious doubts about the integrity of the investigation.
As human rights activists, we demand answers to the following questions:
1. Why was Shahzad's identity concealed from his relatives, and why were they denied access to crucial information regarding his whereabouts?
2. If Shahzad's death was initially attributed to a fall, why did the narrative suddenly shift to a motorcycle accident? What evidence supports this claim?
3. If Shahzad died in a motorcycle accident, where is the motorcycle? The absence of this crucial piece of evidence raises doubts about the authenticity of the police's account.
4. What is the explanation for the presence of sharp wounds on Shahzad's body? Who is responsible for these injuries, and why have they not been held accountable?
The case of Shahzad is not an isolated incident; it is a stark reminder of the pervasive culture of impunity that enables human rights abuses to go unchecked in Pakistan. The alarming statistics further underscore this reality, with 96 people from Jammu and Kashmir killed in 2023 and 15 more in 2024 until April 18, 2024, in Pakistan.
