Family seeks justice as 30-year-old son killed by cousin over property

Victim’s parents claim Jogezai tribe’s elders sheltering killer

to protect family name; mother to hold presser today at 2pm

They killed him over a property dispute,” said a grief stricken Dr Muhammad Tariq Jogezai while narrating the series of events that led to the cold blooded murder of his 30-year-old son, Jibran Jogezai, in Balochistan’s Killa Saifullah on May 7. 

Admitted at a private hospital in Karachi after he too was shot at in the incident, Dr Tariq told The News on Friday that Jibran was shot thrice by his first cousin Ajmal Jogezai, while he received a bullet injury to his left thigh.

Hailing from a Pushtoon Jogezai tribe, Jibran, a resident of Quetta had completed his MCS from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, in 2013. He had earlier acquired an MBA from the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology in 2010.

To add insult to injury, the culprit was being protected by the tribal elders to save the family’s name from defamation, said the deceased’s mother, Nargis Khatoon.

Holding back her tears, the mother asked, “What kind of honour is it to shelter a killer over false notions of family prestige?”

After the incident, Nargis Khatoon got an FIR registered against Ajmal, with the Levies Thana Headquarters, Killa Saifullah on the day of the murder. It was four days later that the Killa Saifullah’s deputy commissioner wrote to Balochistan’s home and tribal affairs secretary asking him to place Ajmal’s name on the exit control list.

“Efforts are in hand to arrest the accused person. It is apprehended that the accused may flee to some other country,” read the deputy commissioner’s letter. However, Jibran’s parents are highly sceptical that justice would be served.

“We were targeted at around 2:30pm after we came from Quetta to visit our farm lands in Killa Saifullah. Ajmal came with his Klashnikov to shoot me and Jibran in broad daylight.” said Dr Tariq, who is an eye specialist.

“I could not even attend my son’s funeral as we were both taken to the District Headquarter Hospital in Killa Safiullah.”

The injured father and son were later moved to a private hospital where the latter succumbed to his injuries during a surgery. Ajmal was buried in Quetta on May 8 while his father was brought to Karachi for treatment.

Jibran’s mother is to hold a press conference today at the Karachi Press Club at 2pm. “But this is not the first time that we are asking for justice,” Nargis Khatoon said, adding, that her husband was earlier targeted in 2015 and a FIR was also registered against the attack. “Ajmal attempted to crush my husband under his vehicle while a friend of his, Ali, tried to shoot him. He fortunately survived the murder attempt.”

According to Nargis, Balochistan’s administration largely stayed away from family disputes owing to the complex nature of tribal conflicts. “The case lingered on for over a year and a half, but neither the police nor the court was serious in resolving the case.”

The woman said she belonged to Karachi and would not let the tribal system become a hindrance in getting justice for her son. “I can’t sit idle and wait for a miracle to happen.  I demand of both the Sindh and the federal government to arrest the culprit as it is highly unlikely that the Balochistan government would do the needful due to the influence of tribal leaders who are backing my son’s killer.”

She said the accused’ family was pressurising them to withdraw the case and initate talks for a settlement.

“They are threatening to hurt my two daughters and the younger son.”

Also a Szabist graduate and a friend of Jibran’s, Sohail Khan, said the varsity students have set-up a Facebook page “Justice for Muhammad Jibran Jogezai” and would be showing up at the family press conference to express their support.

“We will also be staging a protest next week outside the Quetta Press Club to demand justice for our friend. We request all social activists and civil society members to play their due role in turning it into a  movement.”