Background:
The Chilas district in Gilgit-Baltistan has witnessed frequent attacks on buses carrying Shia Muslims traveling to and from major cities in Pakistan for various reasons. On August 16, 2012, a bus from Wawalpindi was targeted in the same district, leading to the shooting of 25 Shia passengers. ISIS Khorasan Pakistan claimed responsibility, with many of its recruits belonging to the Sipah Sahaba Pakistan, also known as Lashkar Jhangvi—an infamous organization involved in Shia genocide. A feature article on BBC Urdu, dated December 7, 2023, sheds light on the bravery of Roshan Bibi, a Shia Muslim woman from the Ghazar district of Gilgit-Baltistan. However, the article fails to mention the broader context of the targeted killings of Shia Muslims and the ongoing persecution since the 1980s.
The ill-fated bus was hit by gunfire from the Takfiri-Deobandi organization Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. Dawn News photographer Umar Faroqui shot this image.
Children Under the Seat:
File Photo: Roshan Bibi, photo by Bulbul Shah
Bulbul Shah, accompanied by his wife Bibi Roshan and two children, was on a bus from Ghizer to Karachi. The bus, driven by Mir Alam, became the unfortunate target of a firing incident near Diamir. Despite Mir Alam’s 20-year accident-free record, the bus fell prey to the attack, leading to nine casualties.
Facing the Danger:
As the firing began, Bibi Roshan shielded her husband and children, taking six bullets in the process. Bulbul Shah recounts the terrifying moments when, after Maghrib prayers, Bibi Roshan instructed him to lie down and revealed that she had hidden the children under the seat. Despite being hit multiple times, she ensured the safety of her family.
Heroic Rescue:
After the firing stopped, Bulbul Shah feared for the safety of those on the bus. The bus collided with a truck, caught fire, and the chaos continued. Bulbul Shah, with immense difficulty, rescued his injured children from under the seat, assuring them that he would bring their mother. Bibi Roshan, though injured, displayed remarkable presence of mind throughout the ordeal.
Roshan Bibi, alongside her husband Bulbul Shah and children. Captured by Bulbul Shah, featured on BBC Urdu.
Two Operations and Hope:
Photo by Bulbulshah
Bibi Roshan underwent two operations, and while she still has three bullets in her body, the doctors express confidence in saving her life. Bulbul Shah requests the nation’s prayers for Bibi Roshan’s health and urges authorities to make the roads safer to prevent further tragedies.
Bus Driver Alam Mir (In Center)
References:
Dawn News:
https://www.dawn.com/news/742618/several-forced-off-buses-killed-in-northern-pakistan
