SEPTEMBER 18 rocked the Dawoodi Bohra community when the after-dusk hours brought with it three blasts in Karachi’s crowded area of Haidry, one of the hubs of the Dawoodi Bohra community.

The evening hours bring with it children who love to play and buy snacks from the umpteen shops which line the roads.

It brings the elderly who wish to take a breath of fresh air and catch up on gossip.

It brings people returning from work to mingle and buy wares and grocery to take home.

It brings people in groups of twos and threes, returning from the mosque after offering Maghrib prayers.

And this pleasant picture was rocked as a trio of bombs took innocent lives and injured and crippled countless others on that ill- fated eve.

A large number of the Dawoodi Bohra community live in various areas of Pakistan, their density being in the metropolis of Karachi.

It’s easy to spot them — most community members wear a white and gold ‘topi’ and the women wear colourful flowing hijabs called a Rida.

Renowned for their business ethics, unique cuisine and penchant for peace, they follow the example of their spiritual leader, His Holiness Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, who is acclaimed internationally as an Ambassador of Peace and Goodwill.

The community spearheads a multitude of health, educational and welfare programmes in the form of a network of hospitals, schools and trusts.

These community members were left aghast at why and who would want to do such malicious harm to them as they have only wished to contribute to the economy with their businesses and trade and are conscientious citizens.

Several phone calls came from friends from outside the community, inquiring anxiously after their safety and expressing condolence.

As for the matter of finding out who these heartless terrorists are, one thing is for sure: they have no faith, they believe in no religion and harbour no respect for humanity.

MARYAM MURTAZA SADRIWALA Karachi