Athar Ali (scientist)
Encyclopedia
Dr. Athar Ali was a Pakistan
i system engineer and a rocket scientist
who was murdered in Karachi
on 4 October 2003. He was an expert in missile technology
and was the senior scientist at the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) during the time of the development of Shaheen missile guidance system. SUPARCO is a Pakistani governmental agency. His death led the mass demonstration in a Shiite community in Karachi.
, Ali received his doctorate (Ph.D) in system engineering from the same institute. His doctoral studies were funded by the SUPARCO in the 1980s. He associated with SUPARCO during his master's studies in system engineering. He played an important and central role in the Pakistani space program.
s, and was responsible for the program's electrical and system power engineering at the SUPARCO. In 2002, due to his contribution to the agency, he was promoted as the deputy-director of the commission.
of 4 October 2003, Ali along with 35 members of SUPARCO were on the way to SUPARCO Headquarters. At the 12:45 pm, the SUPARCO bus dropped some people at a nearby mosque
and then proceeded towards an Imambargah near the Baba Wilayat Shah shrine to drop the remaining persons to the designated check post. As the bus reached the junction
of a link road and the Hub river road, three unidentified armed men on a motorcycle
intercepted the bus and opened fire.
A few minute long drive-by-shooting
, the shooting left five people dead and eight others were wounded including officials of Pakistan Army
who were there to guard the facility. The bodies of victim were immediately taken to the Murshid Hospital where the five members of the commission were pronounced as dead. Later, the dead bodies were shifted the bodies to the Rizvia Imambargah.
city authorities termed the incident a sectarian
killing and the team of special agents of FIA
had been initiated. The Law enforcement agencies
and the Karachi Police
refused to speculate as to whether the killings were motivated by any particular incident. However, the police suspected the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi
behind the killings.
According the Online news of Pakistan
, the Indian external agency, Research and Analysis Wing
(RAW) has been behind the attacks. The source also concluded that RAW hired activists of Quetta
-based Balochistan Liberation Army
(BLA) outlawed outfit for this incidence of terrorism and real target was Athar Ali who was, in the past, was targeted twice but he was able to manage a escape from the scene. The following day of the killings, the FIA had arrested the RAW agent and few other members of BLA. However, Indian Government
has denied the allegations and its agency's involvement in the assassinations.
. The shiite religious parties condemned the death of Dr. Ali, and accused the Government of Pakistan
in the death. The non-profit organization, Imamia Students Organisation
(ISO), Anjuman Tahaffuz Azadari (ATA), and Tehrik-i-Islami (TI) activists on Saturday staged a demonstration to condemn the killings in Karachi
. After the mass demonstration in Karachi, the FIA's special agents arrested the culprits and masterminds of the killings. All of the members were closely associated with the Sipah-e-Sahab
and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
. The associated members were hanged and executed by the Government of Pakistan.
by the President of Pakistan
. After his death, the Pakistani government learned a valuable lesson and has increased the security of its scientists and engineers who closely were working in the country's confidential programs.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i system engineer and a rocket scientist
Aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
who was murdered in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
on 4 October 2003. He was an expert in missile technology
Missile
Though a missile may be any thrown or launched object, it colloquially almost always refers to a self-propelled guided weapon system.-Etymology:The word missile comes from the Latin verb mittere, meaning "to send"...
and was the senior scientist at the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) during the time of the development of Shaheen missile guidance system. SUPARCO is a Pakistani governmental agency. His death led the mass demonstration in a Shiite community in Karachi.
Education
A graduate of NED University of Engineering and TechnologyNED University of Engineering and Technology
The Nadirshaw Eduljee Dinshaw University of Engineering and Technology is a public university in Karachi, Pakistan. It was founded in 1922 as an engineering college, making it the oldest school in Pakistan for educating graduate engineers....
, Ali received his doctorate (Ph.D) in system engineering from the same institute. His doctoral studies were funded by the SUPARCO in the 1980s. He associated with SUPARCO during his master's studies in system engineering. He played an important and central role in the Pakistani space program.
SUPARCO career
Having joined SUPARCO in 1985, Ali was associated with the rocket's electrical and electronics system. Thereafter, he specialized in missile technology while the Hatf missile system was being developing. At the SUPARCO, Ali was one of the senior scientists involved in the indigenous development of the Shaheen guidended missile systemShaheen-I
The Shaheen missile series, named after a species of falcon found in the mountains of Pakistan, was developed by NESCOM's National Defence Complex of Pakistan...
s, and was responsible for the program's electrical and system power engineering at the SUPARCO. In 2002, due to his contribution to the agency, he was promoted as the deputy-director of the commission.
Assassination and Culprits
In the afternoonAfternoon
Afternoon is the time of day from noon to about 18:00.The term should not be confused with "after noon" , which is a translation of the Latin "post meridiem" as used in the 12-hour clock, meaning a time of day from noon to midnight.In Australia and New Zealand, the word "arvo" is a slang term for...
of 4 October 2003, Ali along with 35 members of SUPARCO were on the way to SUPARCO Headquarters. At the 12:45 pm, the SUPARCO bus dropped some people at a nearby mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
and then proceeded towards an Imambargah near the Baba Wilayat Shah shrine to drop the remaining persons to the designated check post. As the bus reached the junction
Junction (road)
A road junction is a location where vehicular traffic going in different directions can proceed in a controlled manner designed to minimize accidents. In some cases, vehicles can change between different routes or directions of travel.-Origins:...
of a link road and the Hub river road, three unidentified armed men on a motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
intercepted the bus and opened fire.
A few minute long drive-by-shooting
Drive-by shooting
A drive-by shooting is a form of hit-and-run tactic, a personal attack carried out by an individual or individuals from a moving or momentarily stopped vehicle without use of headlights to avoid being noticed. It often results in bystanders being shot instead of, or as well as, the intended target...
, the shooting left five people dead and eight others were wounded including officials of Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
who were there to guard the facility. The bodies of victim were immediately taken to the Murshid Hospital where the five members of the commission were pronounced as dead. Later, the dead bodies were shifted the bodies to the Rizvia Imambargah.
Investigation
The KarachiKarachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
city authorities termed the incident a sectarian
Sectarian violence in Pakistan
Sectarian violence in Pakistan spark up occasionally between the predominant Sunnis and minority Shias. According to Library of Congress, Pew Research Center, Oxford University, the CIA Factbook and other experts, Shi'a Islam in Pakistan make up 5-20% of the total Muslim population, while the...
killing and the team of special agents of FIA
Federal Investigation Agency
The Federal Investigation Agency is an agency of Pakistan, under the Ministry of Interior, that serves as a federal criminal investigative body with one of the Directorate dealing as Pakistani body of Interpol. It has a wide role in anti-terrorism, anti-fascism, anti-corruption, human smuggling...
had been initiated. The Law enforcement agencies
Law enforcement in Pakistan
Law enforcement in Pakistan is carried out by several federal and provincial police agencies. The four provinces and the Islamabad Capital Territory each have a civilian police force with juridiction extending only to the relevant province or territory...
and the Karachi Police
Sindh Police
-History:On the pattern of the colonial Irish constabulary, Sir Charles Napier established a police system in Sindh in 1843. The British Army Officers closely supervised and controlled forces which were resultantly more disciplined, efficient and not corrupt...
refused to speculate as to whether the killings were motivated by any particular incident. However, the police suspected the banned Lashkar-i-Jhangvi
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is a militant organization. Formed in 1996, it has operated in Pakistan since Sipah-e-Sahaba activist Riaz Basra broke away from the SSP over differences with his seniors...
behind the killings.
According the Online news of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
, the Indian external agency, Research and Analysis Wing
Research and Analysis Wing
The Research and Analysis Wing is India's external intelligence agency. It was formed in September 1968 after the poor performance of the Intelligence Bureau in the Sino-Indian war of 1962 and the India-Pakistani war of 1965 convinced the then government of India that a specialized, independent...
(RAW) has been behind the attacks. The source also concluded that RAW hired activists of Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
-based Balochistan Liberation Army
Balochistan Liberation Army
The Balochistan Liberation Army is a terrorist group based in Balochistan, a mountainous region within southern Iran and Pakistan. The organization is a participant in the Balochistan conflict and strives to establish an independent state of Balochistan, free of Pakistani and Iranian rule...
(BLA) outlawed outfit for this incidence of terrorism and real target was Athar Ali who was, in the past, was targeted twice but he was able to manage a escape from the scene. The following day of the killings, the FIA had arrested the RAW agent and few other members of BLA. However, Indian Government
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
has denied the allegations and its agency's involvement in the assassinations.
Aftermath
Athar Ali's death brought mass demonstration in the shiite community in PakistanPakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The shiite religious parties condemned the death of Dr. Ali, and accused the Government of Pakistan
Government of Pakistan
The Government of Pakistan is a federal parliamentary system, with an indirectly-elected President as the Head of State and Commander in Chief of the Pakistani Armed Forces, and an indirectly-elected Prime Minister as the Head of Government. The President’s appointment and term are...
in the death. The non-profit organization, Imamia Students Organisation
Imamia Students Organisation
Imamia Students Organisation is a Shi'a Muslim students organisation in Pakistan. It was founded by Dr. Mohammad Ali Naqvi on 22 May 1972 at University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore...
(ISO), Anjuman Tahaffuz Azadari (ATA), and Tehrik-i-Islami (TI) activists on Saturday staged a demonstration to condemn the killings in Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
. After the mass demonstration in Karachi, the FIA's special agents arrested the culprits and masterminds of the killings. All of the members were closely associated with the Sipah-e-Sahab
Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan
Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan is a militant Sunni Deobandi organization, and a formerly registered Pakistani political party, established in the early 1980s in Jhang by Maulana Haq Nawaz Jhangvi its stated goal is to primarily to deter major Shia influence in Pakistan in the wake of the Iranian...
and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is a militant organization. Formed in 1996, it has operated in Pakistan since Sipah-e-Sahaba activist Riaz Basra broke away from the SSP over differences with his seniors...
. The associated members were hanged and executed by the Government of Pakistan.
Legacy
Dr. Athat Ali was a noted scientist and missile technologist who had contributed in the nation's space program. As a missile expert, he had a rich contribution in the field of rocket science. His assassination brought a nation-wide protests and demonstrations. Following his death, Dr. Ali was awarded Hilal-i-ImtiazHilal-i-Imtiaz
The Hilal-i-Imtiaz, English: Crescent of Excellence, Urdu: هلال ا متيا ز , is the second highest civilian award and honor given to both civilians and military officers of the State of Pakistan|Pakistan armed forces by the Government of Pakistan...
by the President of Pakistan
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
. After his death, the Pakistani government learned a valuable lesson and has increased the security of its scientists and engineers who closely were working in the country's confidential programs.