Young men killed in Iran laid to rest

PESHAWAR: The bodies of two young men who were shot dead while trying to enter Iran from Balochistan were brought here in the early hours of Tuesday for burial.
The bodies of Gulsher Khan, a student of Edwardes College, Peshawar, and his friend Abdul Rauf, were flown from Quetta to Islamabad and then transported to Peshawar at 1.30am. The bodies were shown to the weeping family members for a few minutes and then buried in the Rahman Baba cemetery after the Nimaz-e-Janaza.
The funerals were largely attended by members of the two families, relatives and friends. Moving scenes were witnessed on the occasion. Family members and friends of 22-year-old Gulsher said he had gone with a group of 12 persons from Peshawar to Quetta on his way to Iran as he wanted to reach Europe to earn a living.
Gulsher was a student of fourth year at the historic Edwardes College. He was a BA student and was studying law and social work. In fact, he had appeared in the BA examination and had yet to give two papers. Suddenly, he left with the group bound for Iran without telling his family.
Gulsher’s younger brother Sajid Khan had also left for Europe a month ago without informing his family. He has reportedly reached Hungary from Turkey, but it is unclear if he will stay there or try to cross over to some other European country. It is believed Gulsher wanted to follow his younger brother to Europe, but luck didn’t favour him. One of his friends, Asad Akhundzada, recalled that Gulsher used to tell him that he will one day go to Europe and then help him also to join him.
Gulsher’s family members said he and his colleagues were trying to enter Iran from Balochistan on June 20 when their vehicle was fired at by the Iranian border guards. Reports from the area said the Iranians ordered the vehicle to stop but it didn’t and was fired at indiscriminately. It is said most of those travelling in the vehicle were killed. It took several days to retrieve the bodies and send them to Pakistan. Due to the firing, Gulsher’s face was disfigured and it wasn’t shown to the mourners when the coffin was brought to the funeral ground.
The dream of the young men from Peshawar to reach Europe ended in a tragedy. Gulsher’s well-to-do family wanted him to do business in Peshawar but he wished to try his luck in some Western country.