By Mahtab Alam, TwoCircles.net,
On 11th of February last year, when Advocate Shahid Azmi was gunned down by three ‘unidentified’ persons, the two obvious questions arose. Who can be behind his murder and who will carry on the legacy and the work of Shahid Azmi? Though, the first question is still unanswered, the second was answered by none other than his younger brother, Adv. Khalid Azmi. Within a week, Khalid instead of mourning long over the murder of Adv. Shahid Azmi, declared, ‘Lo, I’m here to take up my Brother, Shahid Azmi’s cause’.
In a telephonic interview on 25th February last year, Advocate Khalid Azmi, the youngest brother of Shahid, told me, “I want to take up my brother’s cause and I take it as a matter of both challenge as well as a real tribute to him”. When asked if he didn’t think he was putting his life in danger by this decision, a determined Khalid had this to tell me, “I don’t fear for my life. Cause is more important and I am ready to pay the price for it, no matter if it’s with my life”.
Adv. Shahid Azmi
It was Khalid’s determination that resulted in the acquittal of Fahim Ansari, an accused in the 26/11 terror attacks case. He fought the case along with his senior, R V Monakshi. The court acquitted Fahim on 3rd May, 201o, saying that the prosecution’s evidence to prove that he was part of the conspiracy was unreliable. Now, the case is in the High Court of Maharashtra as the government has appealed against the judgement delivered by the lower court. But, again Khalid is hopeful about the verdict. “I am sure that the verdict will be like that delivered by the lower court”, Khalid told me this morning, speaking on the telephone from his home. He was on leave today, and wanted to spend time at home with his family remembering his brother.
Before Shahid’s martyrdom, Khalid used to practice at the Kurla magistrate court and sometimes on bail applications at sessions court. Now, after Shahid’s murder, he represents Shahid’s clients in a number of cases. Since then, he has represented many of the Mumbai train bomb blast accused and is busy with cases related to Aurangabad Arms Haul, Malegaon 2006 blasts, Official Secrets Act, etc. He is happy that he has been able to make a difference. “Many cases, which were lying in the cold storage of courts, have started moving. And I hope justice will delivered soon”, said an excited Khalid.
At the end of our conversation, I asked the same question I had asked him last year, “Aren’t you afraid?” “Mere pas ab khone ke liye kya rah gaya hai (What else do I have now to lose?)”, said Khalid in one go without pausing for a moment. Khalid might not be afraid but the community and families whose wards he is fighting fear. Let’s hope, Khalid has a long life so that access to justice by the poor does not remain a distant dream. May the prayers of Dhanna Parshuram Kotekar, a widow in her sixties, who lives in a slum of Kranti Nagar, Kurla and who has hugely benefited from the Azmi brothers do not go unanswered as her lips move in prayer, “My other son Khalid is my son now. May Bhagwan take good care of him”. Ameen!