- By: Maj Aamir Zia (R)
A few days ago, a heart-wrenching tragedy struck Karachi’s old and densely populated neighborhood of Lyari. A dilapidated residential building came crashing down, burying 27 precious lives under its debris. Among them were innocent children, women, the elderly, and young men — all harboring hopes for a better life beneath a fragile roof that was never meant to last.
What makes this incident even more painful is that the greatest loss was suffered by a Hindu family from the Kutchi Maheshwari community. Reports confirmed the heartbreaking deaths of 12-year-old Ayush Jamna Das, 65-year-old Shani Juma, 40-year-old Kailash Juma, 35-year-old Usha Kailash, 50-year-old Prakash Shivjee, 35-year-old Chetan Shivjee, 30-year-old Rohit Arsi, and 24-year-old Geeta Rohit.
Rohit and Geeta had only been married a few months ago. Dreams of a life together had just begun to bloom, when cruel fate abruptly snatched them away, along with several members of their family.
This tragedy compels us, as a society, to reflect: for how long will we continue to ignore the rights and safety of our minorities, our underprivileged citizens, and the basic human dignity owed to every resident of this country? In a city like Karachi, dozens of such decrepit buildings still stand — silent threats looming over the heads of innocent families. Yet, authorities move only after disaster strikes.
The Lyari building collapse is not just a loss for the Hindu community — it is a collective tragedy for the entire nation. A civilized society safeguards the rights and lives of its minorities, its weak, and its common citizens alike. If we truly believe in humanity, in Islamic brotherhood, and in justice, then we must rise above religious, ethnic, and sectarian divides to stand with the oppressed and the grieving.
I earnestly appeal to the Government of Sindh, the Chief Minister, and federal authorities to launch a transparent inquiry into this incident, hold those responsible accountable, offer financial compensation and permanent housing to the affected families, and urgently conduct a survey of all dangerous buildings across Karachi to prevent further heartbreak.
We must remember that the wrongful loss of a single life is akin to the murder of all humanity. May Allah grant forgiveness to those who have departed, heal the wounded, and bestow patience and strength upon the bereaved families. Ameen