MARTYRDOM OF JAMAL
TAHIR AND ASLAM MUJAHID

The town nazims of Al-Khidmat had a key role to play in giving a boost to the city government’s performance. Each one of them worked hard and selflessly, and considered public service a sacred duty. I’d make a special mention of Mohammad Shahid, nazim Landhi Town, and Abdul Jamil Khan, nazim Korangi Town. I used to take special interest in their projects, amongst others. Landhi and Korangi were a hub for the city’s economy, albeit in a lamentable state. The residents used to live in abject conditions. First, the MQM caused the plunge by arming the youth and destroying education. Then, armed scuffles with breakaway faction Haqiqi on a daily basis worsened law and order. There had been no development in these areas for a long time either. There was no coordinated system of basic amenities, such as of drinking water, electricity, gas or cleanliness in several areas. Also, clogged gutters and their foul smell had made it impossible to walk by. The roads were dilapidated and people seemed devoid of hope.

But both the determined town and union council nazims worked hard to facilitate people in their respective areas and the situation gradually improved. The roads now stood fixed, existing parks were revived and more were opened. Special attention was accorded to madrassas and mosques. In this context, it is important to highlight Aslam Mujahid’s consultative role. The said MPA was a renowned and celebrated public representative. His role was also crucial in the success of Muhammad Shahid and Abdul Jamil Khan in the city government’s elections, and in uplift work in the constituencies. He was a part of efforts to establish a chest pain center for the treatment of heart diseases in Korangi, besides other steps. He was also behind the Malir River dyke, Shaheed-e-Millat extension, enhancement of schools and installation of long pipelines to revamp the water and sewerage system. He was the one to help out the residents in solving every troubling issue.

In Afghani sahib’s era too, Aslam Mujahid had an active role in solving issues as councilor. The Parda Park, Baradari, Sports Complex, maternity home in Korangi Dhai and several sports grounds came into being because of his active participation. Moreover, he had a key role in the development and progress of the industrial areas of Korangi 2 ½ and Landhi, Korangi causeway, renewal of the Jam Sadiq Ali Bridge and 8000 and 12000 roads. Aslam Mujahid had begun to take MQM’s negative politics to task and he would criticize Altaf Hussain by name in the gatherings of thousands.

After a push from him and the UC and town nazims of Landhi and Korangi, the city government decided to build a large bridge on Malir River, connecting Shah Faisal Colony with Korangi. The ceremony held in Korangi on Sunday, May 29, 2005 to introduce the Rs1057.95 million-mega project was attended by scores. Naib nazim Tariq Hassan, Aslam Mujahid, Kamal Farooqui, Muslim Pervez, EDO Works Sarfaraz Ali Shah, Mohammad Shahid and Abdul Jamil Khan and I were also there. The attendees were glad to find out that the bridge will reduce the distance between the two areas to a few minutes.

As the program concluded, Jamal Tahir – a young party leader from Landhi – left for his home on a motorbike. He was ambushed and fired upon by MQM’s target killers near his residence, seriously wounding him. He was being rushed to Jinnah Hospital by JI activists when he succumbed to his injuries. He had served Hizb al-Mujahidin in the past and used to visit me with brother Tufail and Azeem Baloch. His funeral prayers were offered after Zuhr prayers the next day. JI workers from the across the city were a part of the prayers to bid Jamal Tahir his final farewell. As Aslam Mujahid was on his way back in his car, some terrorists belonging to MQM intercepted his vehicle and kidnapped him. He was subjected to extreme torture, before being shot in the head and chest. His body was found from near the Degree College in Landhi no. 6.

We were informed by JI activists that some 20 to 25 terrorists had intercepted him near Al-Razi Chowrangi, Landhi 3 ½ . The assailants were being led by MQM’s sector in-charge Farooq Baig. They also said that those who opened fire on him included a notorious local police officer, Anwar Jafri. It was an unimaginably hard and testing time, losing two JI leaders in as many days. Everyone from the workers to the leaders was in deep pain and furious, but we had no option but to be patient. The state was helpless and the MQM seemed to have lost it. Sensing that they were losing their grip on the city, they wanted fear and violence to make a return. The killing of someone like Aslam Mujahid in broad daylight proved that Altaf Hussain and his team at the time couldn’t survive without terror and hate. The same group continues to exist today in some shape or form.

His funeral prayers were offered the next day by JI chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad. The high-ups of JI Karachi, MNAs, MPAs, senior provincial minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Siraj-ul-Haq, prominent figures and a large number of people from different walks of life attended the prayers.

Everyone was weeping. No one could believe the torture and killing of a person who was dreaming of yet another project – Malir River Bridge – for his constituency a day before he was abducted. He was the kind of politician who would always be concerned about the progress of his area. Jamal Tahir and Aslam Mujahid achieved martyrdom and fulfilled their promise made with Allah. “Say, surely my prayer, my sacrifice, my life and my death are all for Allah – Lord of all worlds.” (Surah Al-An’am – 162).