US School Shooting Victim Sabika Laid to rest

Funeral of the 17 years old Sabika Sheikh, was held in Karachi’s Hakeem Saeed Ground on Wednesday 9 am. The deceased was shot down on Friday along with ten others at Santa Fe High School in Texas by 17 years old, Dimitrios Pagourtzis.

The body of the late student reached Karachi earlier on Wednesday from private a Turkish airline TK 708. With heavy heart, Sabika’s father and uncle; Aziz Sheikh and Abdul Sheikh, received her body from Jinnah International terminal and took her to their residence in Gulshan-e-Iqbal.

The funeral was attended by many political figures including Sindh Chief Minister, Sindh Home Minister, and Sindh Governor along with Sabika’s friends and family. In that ground, the pain was unanimous, heartfelt cries everywhere, Aziz Sheikh may have lost his daughter but the pain was felt by the entire country. Hundreds of citizens of Pakistan came out in support of the Sheikh family.  Tight security schedule was followed to ensure the safety of the citizens. Bomb disposal squad checked the ground for safety purpose. 100 policemen were called on duty to see no riots took place.

Sabika’s host parents were the first to receive the news of her death and immediately rushed to the shooting site on receiving the heart wrenching news. Cogburns, were devastated when they spoke about Sabika on the memorial they hosted for her. They talked of her as a ‘daughter’ and as a ‘most precious gift’ “We loved her, and we hate this horrific thing happened. We are going to carry on the tradition of love she brought from Pakistan." Jason Cogburn, her host father stated in a speech at her memorial.

The girl whose homecoming was due in less than 3 weeks was finally laid to rest beside her grandparents. But question remains, until how many more souls will see this end till terrorism meet its end.