KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday paid a visit to the residence of prominent religious scholar Mufti Taqi Usmani and expressed solidarity with him.

A Sindh government spokesman said Mr Shah told Mufti Usmani that the attack on him was actually an attack on the peace of Karachi.

“They [attackers] cannot see Karachi developing, flourishing and emerging as a peaceful place, and for terrorising people they attacked a humble, non-political, widely respected and renowned scholar like you,” Mr Shah said, adding, “Almighty Allah saved you and your children.”

He assured Mufti Usmani that those who attacked him would be arrested shortly.

Mufti Usmani informed the chief minister about details of the attack he had survived.

Colleagues of slain police guard Farooq remember him as a hard-working, honest man

“A bullet crossed near me from the back side of the rear seat and hit my police guard Farooq who was sitting on the front seat. Similar shots hit my car from various angles but Almighty Allah saved me and my two grandchildren who were with me. Unfortunately, my guard and driver could not survive,” he told the CM.

He said there were 1,200 students in his madressah while 3,000 were boarding in its hostel.

“We are purely a non-political entity and it is beyond my comprehension that terrorists attacked me,” he said.

CM Shah said the attack was aimed at destroying the peace and tranquillity that had come to the city after decades of turbulence.

“This is why I am terming it an attack on Karachi,” he said.

CM visits martyred constable’s house

Mr Shah visited the house of slain policeman, Constable Mohammad Farooq, in Korangi Industrial Area and offered condolence with his father.

He met with the seven children of the slain constable. He was told that three of the children, including a girl, were blind.

The chief minister condoled with them and announced that his government would get the blind children enrolled in schools concerned.

“I will provide proper education and treatment to these beautiful children wherever it is possible,” he said.

Mr Shah said there was no substitute to father for the children but “we will try our best to provide you good education, financial support, proper care and good life”.

Mr Shah said he would not make any announcement but “InshaAllah you [constable’s family] will have each and everything [that you need]”.

“Farooq was a brave policeman who sacrificed his life to save the lives of others,” he said, adding, “killers of Shaheed Farooq will be arrested soon.”

‘An honest cop’

The deceased policeman was guarding Mufti Usmani for more than two years.

The 44-year-old policeman was originally posted in Zone-II of the Karachi police and serving in the department for nearly 20 years.

A colleague of the slain constable said that Farooq was not only taking care of his own family but was also raising six children of his widowed sister as well.

“Serving in a department which is seen as one of the most corrupt government institutions, he was putting extra efforts to make both ends meet,” said the colleague. “He had recently set up a puncture shop in the area with assistance of his friend and was working there in the evening after wrapping up his 12-hour duty. He was respected and regarded as an honest person among his colleagues.”

Published in Dawn, March 24th, 2019