MASSOUD ANSARI
> in Karachi
> DOZENS of people gathered at the home of Dr. Moazim Shaikh in an > upmarket locality of Karachi on hearing the news of his > death. None of them was crying; in fact they appeared relaxed. > Moazim's father, Hafeez Shaikh, proudly hugged everyone who > entered the house and served them sweetmeats, as was desired by his > son. This was followed by a feast in the evening. Hafeez > Shaikh, an engineer, believes that Moazim, his only son, is a shaheed > (martyr). Shaheeds never die; they pass from one world to > another. "I'm glad that my son departed like a true Muslim," he told > those who came to condole the death.
> > > Twenty five-year-old Moazim was involved in an encounter on April 7 > with the Indian troops near Doda Baniyal district in the Jammu > sector. (According to his family, about 18 Indian soldiers died in > the battle that lasted 10 hours.) He is one of the hundreds of young > militants who have died in Kashmir, one of the world's hottest spots > of Islamic jehad (holy war). He was motivated to join the "holy > warriors" in Kashmir when he was studying in Chandka Medical College, > Larkana. He became a member of the Lashkar-e-Toiba. Recalls Hafeez > Shaikh: "In fact he wanted to go for jehad when he was in his third > year of MBBS, but his mother convinced him to postpone it till he had > graduated."
> > Moazim did not return home after he appeared for the final year > examinations. He went to the rugged mountains of > Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) to get trained as a militant. He came > home six months later, only to seek his parents' permission > to go to the Valley for jehad.
> > Moazim, who operated in Kashmir under the name Abu Hamza, had crossed > the Indian border at least twice and returned > successfully. But this time, he was selected for a fidai (suicide) > mission by the Lashkar high command. His mother says that when > he left he asked her to do two things - to put henna over his hands > and to pray for his martyrdom. "He was all set to sacrifice his > life for the cause of Islam."