Incomplete, all life we remained...
Incomplete, all life we remained...
Neither did the passions, like a volcano, ever erupt,
Nor did the flame of yearning in the heart ever fade.
Neither did the piercing pains find us in a fire-flash,
Nor could we drop like the singed ash of a cigarette.
Hurt, seared, half-done, pained...
Incomplete, all life we remained...
A revolutionary bird who awakened the masses against tyranny, injustice, and oppression—a sensitive soul who deeply felt the pangs of the downtrodden, sang Awami songs for the voiceless, and enthralled people with soul-stirring poetry—is no more. A poet of romance, beauty, fragrance, and harmony, yet equally a poet of resistance and resolve, who should have walked among us for many more years, has been brutally snatched away from us, leaving behind an abyss of grief, shock, and loss that can never be filled.
A fearless voice of dissent—a rare breed of poet who defied darkness and oppression without fear of consequences—has been silenced. A brave political activist who endured hardships, who spoke of gallows, agonies, and displacement, yet stood resilient against all odds, is now dead. When he recited his revolutionary poems at literary gatherings, the audience would be spellbound, listening in rapt attention, mesmerised by the power of his words. He proudly carried forward the legacy of resistance, standing tall against oppression and injustice, forging his bond with the common folk in the spirit of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai. A true votary of Latif, he upheld and preserved his universal message of love, peace, and harmony—one that transcends time and geography.
A multifaceted personality—a social reformer, a traveller, a transcendental voice for the coastal inhabitants and the marginalised, for those struggling to survive in the sands of misery—has been extinguished. This is not just the passing of an individual; it is the loss of a literary giant, a man of letters, a soul who embodied the conscience of Sindh. A dagger has been plunged into the awareness and awakening of our people. Sindh mourns deeply. The entire country grieves. Though Akash is no longer among us in body, his words shine through the darkness, his poetry reverberates in the hearts of millions, and his legacy remains an undying beacon of courage and truth.
The brutal and mysterious murder of our renowned poet of resistance and revolution, a prolific writer, a distinguished journalist, and a fearless advocate of the oppressed—Akash Ansari—on 15 February in Hyderabad has sent shockwaves across Pakistan. His tragic loss is not just a personal catastrophe; it is a direct assault on the collective conscience of those who cherish truth, justice, and artistic expression. Sindh, for whom he sang, for whose deprived peasants and struggling labourers he fought, and whose pains he carried in his soul, now bears the unhealing wound of his irreparable loss. We mourn him with tears of blood, for he was not just a poet—he was the very voice of our resistance and dignity.
The growing number of addicts, coupled with the proliferation of drug networks, is a chilling testament to our collective failure
We demand justice. We demand an impartial, transparent, and exhaustive investigation—not just to identify the perpetrator but to unmask the sinister hands that orchestrated this heinous crime. So far, his adopted son, a drug addict, has confessed to the murder while under the influence of intoxicants. But is this the whole truth, or just a convenient narrative? Was this merely an impulsive act, or were hidden forces at work, conspiring to silence a voice that dared to challenge oppression and injustice?
If long-drawn, fair investigations ultimately prove that the adopted son alone is responsible, then an even graver and more pertinent question arises: How have lethal drugs and narcotics become so easily available to vulnerable, impressionable youth who, under their toxic spell, lose all sense of morality, empathy, and belonging, even to the extent of committing unthinkable crimes? How have these substances infiltrated our streets, poisoning minds and turning young men into unrecognisable shadows of themselves, capable of unspeakable acts?
As anti-narcotics agencies loudly proclaim, "Drug addiction is not just a habit; it is the destruction of generations." Drugs are systematically ruining our youth—the very hope, the builders and guarantors of our tomorrow. Drugs blind, devour human emotions, and kill love, conscience, and relationships. Crimes committed under the influence of drugs, such as this tragic incident, raise damning questions about the effectiveness of our police and the agencies tasked with controlling narcotics.
Despite millions of taxpayer rupees being spent, how do these death-dealing substances remain freely accessible? How do drug mafias operate with such impunity, right under the supposed vigilance of law enforcement? There is no doubt that police negligence, inefficiency, and even complicity play a nefarious role in the unchecked spread of narcotics, fuelling crimes as heinous as the murder of Akash Ansari.
The police and all responsible agencies must be held accountable for their failure. If their collusion in the drug trade remains unchecked, the consequences will be catastrophic—not only for our youth but for the entire social fabric of our nation. The rapidly growing drug menace demands immediate, uncompromising action. This is not just a social ill—it is a national malaise calling for a national emergency.
A ruthless, frontal assault must be launched to combat all manifestations of this menace, which is eating away at the very vitals of our society. No town, city, or village is immune from this contagious plague, more insidious than an incurable cancer. The veritable presence of drug dens and the open sale of narcotics—even in kutchi abadis and slums—is a national disgrace. The growing number of addicts, coupled with the proliferation of drug networks, is a chilling testament to our collective failure.
Millions of drug users now roam our streets—a terrifying reality for any society that aspires to be healthy and progressive. This frustration, this moral decay, surely calls for urgent and serious governmental action. If we do not wake from our slumber today, we will reap a harvest of devastation tomorrow. We must act now to save future generations from ruin and disgrace.
Akash Ansari’s murder is not just an isolated tragedy—it is a wake-up call. His blood must not be allowed to dry in vain. His poetry, his legacy, and his fearless resistance must continue to inspire the struggle against tyranny, corruption, and all forces that seek to stifle truth.
Let us honour him not just with words, but with unwavering resolve—to seek justice, to dismantle the networks of crime and impunity, and to ensure that no more voices of resistance are silenced.
May Allah grant him eternal peace, and may justice be served.