Vigil for murdered activist moved due to security fears

ISLAMABAD: Though vigils in memory of rights activist Syed Khurram Zaki were held around the world on Sunday, the venue for the vigil in Islamabad had to be changed after it was learnt that the Difa-i-Pakistan rally might pass by.

Fearing an “untoward situation” the vigil’s venue was moved from F-6 to F-7 Markaz.

A few participants could be seen looking around nervously and keeping an eye on passersby, presumably fearing an attack.

Zaki was a journalist and human rights activist with a long history of standing against extremism. He was assassinated in Karachi on May 7.

Vigils were held in various Pakistani cities, and in the United States and the United Kingdom. In Islamabad, participants of the vigil prayed and later dispersed, after recalling the efforts of the late activist.

High Court advocate Asif Mumtaz Malik, who represented Zaki in a number of cases, told Dawn that Zaki had been facing threats because he had filed cases against the head of the Red Mosque, Maulana Abdul Aziz, and his wife Umme Hassan.

“This February, Zaki tried to register cases against Maulana Aziz and his wife, because the Maulana spread hatred against Shias and his wife invited the Islamic State (IS) to Pakistan,” he said.

“The Aabpara police refused to register cases, so we went to the sessions court to get an order for the registration of an FIR under section 22-A, but the court said the government should be the complainant.

“We went to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and then for an intra-court appeal, but instead of giving any decision, we were told to go to the magistrate for the registration of an FIR,” he said.

“We were considering going to the Supreme Court because we were hopeful that at least the Supreme Court would give a clear decision. Meanwhile a campaign, by the Red Mosque, was started on social media against Zaki and rights activist Jibran Nasir. It was even suggested to recognize their faces and they were declared enemies,” he said.

He added: “We strongly believe that the Red Mosque management was involved in Zaki’s murder and after the assassination, we filed an application due to which an FIR was registered on May 8 in Thana Sir Syed Karachi.

“Maulana Abdul Aziz and Sarwat Qadri were nominated, but they could not be arrested, which is another violation of the law.”

Other participants at the vigil said the event aimed to send the message that a number of people are still standing against extremism and extremists.