Another assassination in Pakistan; just have to ‘keep on keepin’ on’

Posted on June 27, 2016 by beenasarwar

My article in PRI’s The World, June 25, 2016

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Thousands of people attend the funeral procession of Amjad Sabri. Photo: Akhtar Soomro/Reuters

“They’ve shot dead Amjad Sabri” — the first words I heard on Wednesday morning marked news of yet another assassination in my beloved Karachi, still “home” despite living in the Boston area since 2011.

Sabri was one of the world’s most famous exponents of the devotional music known as Qawwali. On Wednesday, two gunmen intercepted his car and shot him dead at close range in the crowded locality near his house. Continue reading →

Filed under: Freedom of expression, Human rights, Music | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

RIP Amjad Sabri, symbol of a syncretic Sufi culture increasingly under attack

Posted on June 23, 2016 by beenasarwar

Amjad SabriA sad, sad day. Rest in peace, Amjad Sabri, qawwal, shot dead in a target killing in Karachi today. Shortly afterwards, the young naat-khwan, Farhan Ali Waris escaped a murderous attack on his way home from a recording where he had in fact waiting for Amjad Sabri to join him.  A continuation of the trend of killing Shia and Ahmadi doctors for their faith, now musicians…? But Amjad Sabri was not just a ‘musician’.

Continue reading →

Filed under: Freedom of expression, Human rights, Terrorism | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

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