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The spiritual leader of the Ismaili community His Highness Aga Khan expressed shock and sorrow over the attack on a bus carrying Ismailis near Safoora Chowk in Karachi which left 43 dead and 13 wounded.
"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," said a statement posted on the Aga Khan Development Network website.
The statement said that Ismailis are a peaceful global community that live in harmony with various other ethnic and religious groups across the world.
The statement added that other Ismaili leaders in Pakistan are currently involved in an emergency operation to help the survivors of the attack.
Gen Raheel telephones Aga Khan
Army Chief General Raheel Sharif telephoned Prince Karim Aga Khan and offered his heartfelt condolences on the killings of innocent people in the terrorist attack near Safoora Chowk in Karachi.
“Our heart goes out for the bereaved families. No efforts will be spared to apprehend and punish the perpetrators of this terrorist act and their abettors, General Raheel assured.
Nawaz offers condolences
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also telephoned Prince Karim Aga Khan to extend his condolences over the loss of precious lives in Safoora Goth massacre.
Later, Nawaz Sharif visited the residence of the Leader of Ismaili community Sultan Ali Allana in Karachi. He was accompanied by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, PPP’s co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and MQM leader Farooq Sattar.
Know more: 43 killed in attack on bus carrying Ismailis in Karachi
At least 43 members of Ismaili minority were killed and 13 others were wounded when gunmen opened fire on their bus in Karachi on Wednesday.
Ahmed Marwat, a spokesman for Jundullah, which is a splinter group of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack.
With additional reporting by Irfan Haider
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (86) Closed
May 13, 2015 04:10pm
Whole Pakistan is shocked. RIP!
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May 13, 2015 04:10pm
Great leader ...taught his followers to stay peacefull..salute
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May 13, 2015 04:36pm
Very sorry at such horror. Its worse than despicable crime!
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May 13, 2015 04:38pm
No words to explain greif
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May 13, 2015 04:42pm
Really sad news. RIP
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May 13, 2015 04:45pm
So sorry for the loss of life of innocent people.
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May 13, 2015 04:46pm
This is now become a battle for all of us not of one community or one city or one province. After APS incident it looked Govt is serious but then again all had forgotten. Now lets re-unite and finish this menace. They be 1 million but we are 200 million. Lets be united and gun them down.
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May 13, 2015 04:52pm
Strongly condemn the cowardly attack on bus belonging to the Ismaili community. They are not just 46 people, they are 46 families.
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May 13, 2015 04:53pm
He has taught his followers to stay peaceful and stay away from all the violent activities. No wonder he is utterly shocked at this outrageous and wanton cruelty. I am sure no human can do this. This is pure devilish, barbarian and inhumane.
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May 13, 2015 05:01pm
Ahmed Marwat, a spokesman for Jundullah which is a splinter group of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), talking to Reuters claimed responsibility for the attack.
Outrageous & most horrific incident. In today's scientific development it it that difficult to trace the person who talked to Reuters & claimed responsibility.
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May 13, 2015 05:02pm
My sympathies with the Aga Khan and the Ismaili community.
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May 13, 2015 05:06pm
I lived for almost two decades in the neighbourhood of this very peaceful community. I can not understand why someone should attack Ismailies.
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May 13, 2015 05:06pm
This is shocking news but will be forgotten like all past events in a few days.
A lot more than condemnation is needed to root out the menace. There is an urgent need to disarm the civilian population by cancelling all Gun licenses, no other way to control violence.
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May 13, 2015 05:10pm
It is indeed shocking. Ismailis have contributed so much to Pakistan. This is unacceptable.
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May 13, 2015 05:12pm
Great leader
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May 13, 2015 05:12pm
@Karachi Wally Yes, gun and weapons is the only language these cowards understand. Let us do it. Gun them down. Let us supplement the efforts of Sindh Rangers.
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May 13, 2015 05:19pm
The foes of Pakistan are still adhere with the policy of "Divide & rule" So plea everyone to stay calm and positive for the sake of not let succeed these rival of Pakistan in ferocious aim. Never talk henceforth about any sect, weather he/she is right or wrong in their beliefs. We are first Muslims than hailed from Sects and this is the beauty of very religion.
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May 13, 2015 05:20pm
Very sad indeed.
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May 13, 2015 05:22pm
Your Highness we are ashamed of ourselves as Pakistanis on the carnage of our law abiding and Innocent Ismaili community. The whole country is in a shock and mourning. We pray to God to forgive us. Our condolences to the bereaved families.
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May 13, 2015 05:22pm
my prayers are with My ismailis families be strong now govt must act its not above a community its about humans
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May 13, 2015 05:34pm
All decent human beings today are shocked, deeply saddened for the Ismaili community of Karachi, and for Pakistan. Will we see a day dawn when the senseless killing will be behind us? When hatred filled, intolerant, sick minds change for the better? RIP...prayers for all those suffering this dastardly act.
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May 13, 2015 05:38pm
no comments
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May 13, 2015 05:39pm
this is a coward action of enemy .we share pain of ismaili
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May 13, 2015 05:44pm
So sad, very peaceful community.
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May 13, 2015 05:46pm
We need to make a deliberate attempt to bring tolerance in our society. The cost of failing to do that would be extremely disastrous.
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May 13, 2015 05:51pm
Very true, shocked,
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May 13, 2015 05:52pm
When will be the retaliation?
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May 13, 2015 06:00pm
Whole of the country is in shock RIP. these killers i think should be brought to justice for killing innocent people, my sympathy is with the families of those people who lost their soul and with the whole Ismaili community .
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May 13, 2015 06:10pm
We are the community who welcomes smile #Rip #stay strong #staypeacefull
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May 13, 2015 06:12pm
Sad news!
May God give the families of the deceased courage to endure this catastrophe.
Govt needs to act fast to bring criminals to justice...
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May 13, 2015 06:16pm
We cant do anything except showing sorrow and throwing condolences. This has become a norm in pakistan. Especially peaceful Minorities like aga khanis,.ismailees and ahmadis. Who cares.
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May 13, 2015 06:26pm
Whole Nation is Shocked!!!
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May 13, 2015 06:27pm
Now this happened in Karachi firstly attack on bohra community and now Ismailis WHY ?
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May 13, 2015 06:45pm
I am very familiar with this Ismaili community and have friends. We used to call them "Bombaia". Ther are very peace loving people and always blend with communities they live. They are entrepreneurs and successful businessman. I am shocked with this barbaric act. When will Pakistan be tough on terrorism ?
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May 13, 2015 06:46pm
I am very familiar with this Ismaili community and have friends. We used to call them "Bombaia". Ther are very peace loving people and always blend with communities they live. They are entrepreneurs and successful businessman. I am shocked with this barbaric act. When will Pakistan be tough on terrorism ?
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May 13, 2015 06:46pm
Shameless cold blooded murderers. Please Pakistanis unite and drive away these murderers from your land, why would somebody be killed because they have a different sect or religion. Completely uncivilized fanatical animals.
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May 13, 2015 06:53pm
very elegiac violence.
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May 13, 2015 06:56pm
O my God.
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May 13, 2015 07:05pm
Don't be shocked sir, these illiterate retards have no compassion, no ethics,no morality, nor faith !
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May 13, 2015 07:07pm
No doubt it's a big tragedy. But silence on seeing others being oppressed leads to face oppression one day.
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May 13, 2015 07:16pm
I fully agreed with Agha Khan that "Ismailis are a peaceful global community that live in harmony with various other ethnic and religious groups across the world.".
I grew-up with many Ismailis in Hyderabad Sind and always found them very nice and peaceful people.
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May 13, 2015 07:25pm
Our condolence to Abdul Karim Agha Khan and the entire community.
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May 13, 2015 07:32pm
The main issue is never addressed in Pakistan. The only solution for the Pakistan to survive and have peace is to separate the religion from the State and become secular.
Islam is the brotherhood and not nationhood. it teaches brotherhood among all the Muslims of the world.
Human life has no value in Pakistan.
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May 13, 2015 07:43pm
No words to express grief on these heinous crimes. Army should take over to clean Karachi.
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May 13, 2015 07:50pm
His statement only came after this attack
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May 13, 2015 07:50pm
Cannot believe that Ismailis can also be targets for extremists in Pakistan. The most progressive Muslims are Ismailis and Agha Khan is admired in the west. In Canada, he is an honorary citizen. What could have justified this attack is hard to fathom!
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May 13, 2015 07:53pm
Simply barbaric and cold hearted act. RIP!
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May 13, 2015 08:06pm
sad news
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May 13, 2015 08:19pm
Our prayers are with all Ismaili brothers and sisters. We request to government and specially Pakistan Army to closely monitor these militants, their sponsors in Pakistan, their, weapons suppliers and the people who supported their actions openly or in some ways. And please bring some good and responsible government in Sind.
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May 13, 2015 08:29pm
@comrade This is not an attack on any particular community or sect or group but to create Terror and these TERRORIST are brain washed the whole system needs to be looked. We are reaping what we sow in past decades in the name of religion.
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May 13, 2015 08:41pm
Everybody is shocked. When are we going to see a crack down on banned, notorious outfits known for their hatred for minorities, openly holding rallies and protests?
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May 13, 2015 08:42pm
Shocked and saddened by this senseless attack. Just when you think things couldn't get worse in Pakistan .........
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May 13, 2015 08:58pm
The Ismailis are not only one of the most peaceful and progressive of all Muslim communities, Pakistan owes its existence to the country's founding fathers who were among the leaders in the community. His Highness the Aga Khan established the first international University in the country and several other world-class institutions for the benefit of all citizens. Pakistanis owe a huge debt to this community and this cowardly attack against innocent civilians should be a wake-up call towards a huge mobilization of all citizens against terrorism, without regard to political or religious affiliation.
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May 13, 2015 09:28pm
Sabeen Mehmud, the KU professor got killed by the motor bikers, still they are at large, now this attack on the bus, by bikers and haven't been caught. Already on other Pakistani websites, blame has been put on India.
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May 13, 2015 09:46pm
Shocked
I remember a visit to an Agha khanis showroom to buy leather jackets they were so nice and friendly that i cant forget after learning that we came from Peshawar they gave us very huge discounts and treated us with snacks and cold drinks its almost more than twenty years ago but i will never forget that in a place like Karachi full of hatred you can find such nice people shame on cowards attackers for attacking such a soft targets .
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May 13, 2015 09:52pm
@Karachi Wally
I salute ur thought's
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May 13, 2015 09:54pm
@AHA thank's
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May 13, 2015 09:56pm
@Ahsan Ali Syed
Ahsan ali thank u very much,as a ismaily I appreciate your fealings
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May 13, 2015 10:37pm
Why attackers are not arrested? Where they have gone? Have they diminished in air or flown to sky? It is highly surprising that in the presence of Rangers busy in Karachi operation to clean the city of crime and dashatgerdi the terrorist attacked the bus carrying unconcerned person and killed one by one in style like the children shoot the birds sitting on a tree with their slingshot.
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May 13, 2015 10:39pm
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Tragic as the Ismalie community does alot for others. Here is what Martin Niemoller, a protestant minster, said in the 1930s againts the Nazi:
Martin Niemöller:
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
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May 13, 2015 10:41pm
Agha Khan is a very influential person globally. If the Pakistani authorities think that India is behind Jundullah and TTP who are claiming this attack they should show bullet proof evidence to him.
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May 13, 2015 10:41pm
@ishaq - I know many good people in the Ismaili community and saw the community suffered during the hard-time in 1970's after the expulsions from Uganda and other African countries and upon arrival in Canada in greater numbers. I saw the Isamili community keep their spirit high when discriminated by the Iranian led Shia extremism and admired how the community spiritual leader preached the message to live like Roman when living among Romans - and now, this cowardly attack in Karachi on the people who are innocent and have learned to live in peace all over the world. May our God punish the culprit and the victims rest in peace.
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May 13, 2015 10:43pm
This will give them reasons to hang, perhaps, 100 criminals while the actual terrorists will roam freely. Pls leave Ismailis and Boris alone.
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May 13, 2015 10:55pm
Hope all pakistani religious groups can rise above this heinous crime and stay United.
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May 13, 2015 11:28pm
Ismailis are very peace loving,tolerant,liberal and totally non - dominating - type people .They believe in progress through education,hard work & business.Most of them are so decent and God fearing that they don't even give bad words (ie something that will hurt others).Horrbly shocking that they have to digest this .
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May 13, 2015 11:33pm
@Ibrahim Inayatali :
I assure you that a vast majority of Pakistanis are with the Ismailis in their moment of sorrow. It is only the mindless, soulless terrorists and their supporters who are against peaceful people, including Ismailis.
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May 13, 2015 11:33pm
Teach your children to love all so that at least this kind of coward acts can be ended. Your past generation have rooted only hatred in people. This is fruit of all that.
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May 13, 2015 11:40pm
I'm an Indian & while working in Dubai had many Ismaili friends from Karachi, after reading the news, have called them up & sad to hear they had lost their family members in this attack.....some were young students 18-20 years who were just starting their life, how this ppl can be so brutal & heartless..
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May 14, 2015 12:45am
Shocking
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May 14, 2015 12:47am
Being an Ismaili myself I feel so sad to learn about this wanton and heinous act of people who killed innocent people in the name of religion. I don't understand when will this thing stop. It seems that they have no idea about the teachings of Islam, which calls for sanctity of human lives, peace and love.
I strongly plea with the leaders of Pakistan both civilians and from the military, please forget your differences and find a way to address the issue of terrorism perpetrated in the name of Islam. This is the time to do something otherwise this cancer of terrorism will eat away the very fabric of Pakistani civil society. I also request people all across Pakistan to join hands against this barbarism. All human life is precious and should be treated as a gift from God.
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May 14, 2015 12:54am
@AHA Thank you. This support is enormously important, since many in the community are probably feeling threatened and uncertain about their future in the country that they love and feel an integral part of.
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May 14, 2015 01:08am
We are sorry Excellency Agha Khan. Your father and my father voted and worked hard for this country . Your grandfather and my grandfather has visioned for this great country but now we all are being targeted and are helpless in our own country.
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May 14, 2015 01:22am
These people don't come from another country they are born and raised in Pakistan. We need to make education system in private schools and in madrassa system such that kids can learn how our prophet forgiven people and loved them. Not that if someone kills a non-believer he/she will go to Jannat.
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May 14, 2015 02:22am
Quaid Azam was Ismaili
Muslim League was founded by aga khan 3 in 1906
Pakistan would be nation without Ismailis
And this what Pakistani and Wahabis Saudis give back to Ismail for being peace loving people .. shameful
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May 14, 2015 02:44am
@Umer Ali
Whether we can kill or not depends on how we view other people.
I guarantee it is peaceful in the Hawaiian Islands.
Any violence in Honolulu is due to drugs, people with mental problems and people who were not born in Hawaii. Every large city has problems.
There is perfect peace outside downtown Honolulu and on the other islands because Hawaiian people respect the land and each other.
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May 14, 2015 02:53am
@mba
It was a deliberate act to divide and purify Pakistan. These are elite warriors saving the nation. Although they do have other motives. Their leaders tell them they are the elite vanguard of Islam.
No one would murder all those people at close range for money.
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May 14, 2015 03:14am
@Blue Saffron
Pakistan is getting it wrong.
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May 14, 2015 03:17am
@lkhan
Shocked and saddened but not angry. When will Pakistanis get angry enough to protect themselves?
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May 14, 2015 03:19am
@NUZHAT SHIREEN
You don't really share their pain.
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May 14, 2015 03:20am
So sad for this horrific tragedy never be forgotten.
The worst part and shocking to all Pakistani's is that
Ismaili ' are most peaceful people never get involve and they have mind their own and stay with in their own community very clean and peaceful.
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May 14, 2015 03:28am
Pakistan people need safety not condolence.
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May 14, 2015 06:33am
Its a great shock for all of us and we all should unite against these murderers...........Khuda khair karen...
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May 14, 2015 07:01am
@basudeb dey So sad to see the Founding community of Pakistan are facing attacks.
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May 14, 2015 07:15am
Govt should issue advisory to all such minority communities not to travel in groups as they become easy targets for the terrorists.
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May 14, 2015 11:37am
Ismailis or otherwise, they were Pakistanis first.... Pakistanis should take their fate in their hands, the incompetent Sindh Govt. and civil authorities don't have enough self-respect to even resign after this incidence....
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May 14, 2015 11:40am
When you have professors being shot in daylight, women like Sabeen killed, when bus loads of minorities are attacked without any arrests in the largest, cosmopolitan, most developed city of the country- we have a problem....Unless the public is outraged, you will drive out every intellectual, every business, every ethnic and religious minority and who will even be left? The Ismaeli community is an admired community, great business leaders, who build hospitals and help people- let us keep our neighbors safe.
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