The hero who shone light in Parachinar’s darkest hour is no more

PARACHINAR: Local medics were used to seeing Muhammad Shafiq in a terror-hit area of Parachinar, rushing to bandage injured victims and scrambling to save lives.

Shafiq was neither a trained paramedic nor a physician. The 55-year-old was an employee of the provincial education department. Yet, every time disaster struck he would heroically and selflessly make his way into the thick of danger. Until, on June 23, he lost his life while saving that of others.

A few days before Eid, Shafiq caught the news on his home television. A suicide bomber had struck the Turi Market of Parachinar. He hurried out. It took him one hour to travel from his residence to the site of the blast. On reaching, his first aid kit in tow, he immediately got to work. But then, a second bomber detonated his vest, killing 72 people, including Shafiq.

“He would always be there, at the site of the attack,” recalled Liaquat Hussain, director of the Hyderi Blood Bank, “Even after the injured had been shifted to the hospital, he would continue to visit them.”

The hospitals in Parachinar would also rely on Shafiq to arrange blood donors for the struggling victims.

Now that he is gone, Shafiq’s brave actions have sparked an outpouring of support from people moved by his story. “The government should recognise and honor his efforts,” says Yousuf Lala, a local activist.

Ali Gul, Shafiq’s aggrieved father, has had the most trouble dealing with the loss. His son, he tells Geo.tv, bore the responsibility of the entire household.

“He was like a father to us,” says his younger brother, “ He supported us and helped us get an education.”

There have been three separate deadly terror attacks in Parachinar this year. Over a 100 people have been killed. Even in such worst of times, Shafiq represented the best of humanity.

He has been survived by five sons and three daughters.