There has been a lot of debate both on electronic and print media after American drones killed Hakimullah Mehsud on Nov 1, 2013 as to whether he was a martyr or not. The term is basically religion based. As far as the Arabic word Shaheed is concerned, it is normally used only by the Muslims who fight and get killed while defending their faith, (Islam) or a Muslim state.
Hakimullah Mehsud’s death does not fall in this category. His TTP had no state to defend and as far as his faith Islam is concerned, he was committing major sin by killing innocent Muslims and in doing so he was not defending his faith! So as per definition, he is not a Shaheed. If his companions call him Shaheed, it should not bother us. If anyone from Pakistan calls him Shaheed the government should take serious notice. We have example of Indian army fighting on the border with Pakistani forces where soldiers on both sides get killed. If one of their soldiers gets killed, they also call him (a non Muslim) as Shaheed and we say our forces have killed one Indian soldier and vice a verse.
We however would never call an Indian soldier, even if he is a Muslim who gets killed while fighting Pakistan (a Muslim State) as Shaheed. He would in any case remain a martyr which is not an Islamic term as he died while defending his country or cause of his country. Therefore, no Pakistani should call Hakimullah Mehsud a Shaheed otherwise he would be considered as part of TTP.
AZHAR KHWAJA,
Lahore, November 18.