by B. R. GOWANI
Amal Umer PHOTO/Beenish Umer/Dawn
heavy traffic
two daughters and parents
red light
a knock on the window
window rolls down
a gun was pointed
cell phone snatched
bag handed over
police saw bandits –
a rare rarity –
police vs bandits fire fight
one bandit escaped; one got killed
a heavy assault rifle AK-47
a gift from the US/Saudi/Pakistan war against the Soviet Union
but crossfire had another victim too
10-year-old Amal
her Mom’s cell phone she was using was bloodied
car rushed to the National Medical Centre (NMC)
emergency staff didn’t do much
doctor present was playing statue
ordered to go to another hospital
time was the critical factor
more critical was the availability of an ambulance
Aman Foundation would send one –
provided a bed was confirmed at JPMC or AKUH*
lifesavers became life takers
Amal was no more
though she did reach JPMC but for medico-legal process
was placed next to the bandit killed by police!
life is strange; death is even more strange
Amal was the victim of a police bullet
which police admitted after a few days
B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com
*Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre; Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.