When a gun goes off

There is a kind of news that has become increasingly common in our newspapers and on social media. Someone has died after a gun went off accidentally. Such reports appear from one place or another, often leaving behind a family in grief and a number of unanswered questions.

Whenever I read such news, I find myself asking the same questions. Was it really an accident? Was it the result of carelessness or negligence? Or was it an intentional killing being presented as an accidental firing? Without proper investigation, no one should jump to a conclusion. But neither should every death involving a gun be accepted as an accident simply because someone says so.

The tragic death of television anchor Rabia Ahsan in Rawalpindi has brought these questions back to my mind. She was 41, a mother of two daughters and a professional woman with an impressive career. She had worked as a television anchor, banker, businesswoman, model and communications consultant. Journalist Amir Mateen, who worked with her on television, has described her as a talented, intelligent and kind colleague who had overcome many difficulties to reach her position.

In his moving tribute, Mateen asked whether our responsibility was limited to announcing the time and place of her funeral. He reminded people that Rabia was not just another name in a news report. She was a woman with ambitions, abilities, friendships and a life that ended far too soon.

According to the reports, Rabia died from a gunshot wound to the lower part of her neck at her home in Rawalpindi on November 8. Her husband reportedly told police that the pistol went off accidentally while he was handling it. A murder case was registered on the complaint of her brother, and the police obtained a two-day physical remand of her husband. The family later said it had decided to withdraw the case, believing that her death was accidental.

These are important developments, but they do not, by themselves, establish what happened. The police must examine the forensic evidence, the post-mortem report, the weapon, the position of the people present and all other relevant circumstances. The family’s decision deserves respect, but it cannot replace a proper investigation into a death involving a firearm. Nor should anyone be declared guilty before the evidence is examined.

There is another question that deserves public attention. Why do people keep firearms in their homes without proper training in their safe handling? A gun is not a household toy. It is a weapon that can end a life in a moment. Keeping one without knowing how to handle, store and secure it is an invitation to danger.

I can say, without any hesitation, that I have never held a pistol in my hand, let alone fired one. During my time in the Federal College system, I did not opt for NCC training, which used to offer students 20 valuable marks. I never learnt to fire a weapon. I do not consider this a weakness. I have never felt that I needed to handle a gun to prove anything.

Of course, not everyone needs to follow my example. But anyone who chooses to keep a firearm must understand the responsibility that comes with it. Proper licensing, training, secure storage and strict safety rules should be essential, not optional. A loaded weapon should never be left within the reach of children or handled casually while other people are nearby.

The state also has a responsibility. It must ensure that people who own firearms meet basic safety requirements and that complaints of illegal possession are taken seriously. Every shooting incident, particularly one resulting in death, deserves a transparent and professional investigation.