Protest will not stop | Tribute to Mir Raza Ali| Fight for justice is not over

KARACHI: August 29 was supposed to be the day of Mir Raza Ali’s nikah. Instead, a month after his brutal killing on July 29, his family, friends and loved ones gathered at KMC Ground to pay tribute to him and offer Esal-e-Sawab on the day that was meant to mark one of the most important occasions of his life.

Dialogue Pakistan spoke to Raza’s family, friends and lawyer during the gathering, titled “Shab-e-Raza,” which was organised as a night of remembrance and solidarity. Videos and photographs documenting Raza’s 25-year journey, including his professional journey with Wafflix, were displayed on a projector as those close to him recalled memories of his life.

The gathering was attended by family members, friends and others who knew Raza. Prayers were offered for him, while his loved ones shared personal memories and stories from his life.

His family said the gathering was not an event, but an occasion to remember Raza and bring together the people who had been close to him.

Speaking to Dialogue Pakistan, Raza’s lawyer, Muhammad Jibran Nasir, said the gathering was also a response to what he described as attempts to question Raza’s character.

“Today’s Shab-e-Raza is an answer to those who killed Raza’s character,” Nasir said, referring to those who, he alleged, wore uniforms, carried weapons and presented themselves as protectors. He added that Raza’s family had been forced to respond to the allegations made against him.

Raza’s sister, Alishba, told Dialogue Pakistan that the family had never imagined that the wedding preparations would end in such circumstances.

“We never thought this would happen,” she said, recalling Raza as someone who could be lazy and would sometimes delay his work, but ultimately got things done.

Alishba recalled that Raza had told their mother they would complete all the wedding invitations on Saturday. “That Saturday never came,” she said.

She also recalled one of her final exchanges with Raza, saying her last message to him was about preparing the coconut ground at the location for the nikah photoshoot.

Alishba said the family had gathered to remember Raza and the people who had been close to him. “We are here to remember him and all his close people. This is not an event,” she said.

Raza’s friends also shared memories of him during the gathering. His friend Hassan Surya recalled Raza’s habit of teasing him about being late.

“Surya, you are late everywhere. Dont come late at my nikkah,” Surya recalled Raza telling him.

Speaking about the gathering, Surya told Dialogue Pakistan that he was overcome with emotion because the day had originally been planned as a celebration of Raza’s marriage.

“I was in tears today because this day was supposed to be completely different. Sab khatam ho gaya, chala gaya mera bhai,” he said.

As the evening continued, prayers were offered for Raza while videos and photographs documenting different stages of his life were displayed. Family members and friends recalled memories spanning his childhood, friendships and professional journey.

For Raza’s loved ones, August 29 was a day that had been planned as the beginning of a new chapter in his life. Instead, it became a night dedicated to his memory, with his family and friends coming together to honour his life and reiterate their demand for justice.