Martyrs Dr Ali Haider and son Murtaza Haider remembered on anniversary

Martyrs Dr Ali Haider and son Murtaza Haider remembered on anniversary of their martyrdom.

Both embraced martyrdom due to a terrorist attack on February 18, 2013 in Lahore.

Martyrs Dr Ali Haider and son Murtaza Haider remembered

Notorious takfiri terrorists of outlawed Sipah Sahaba (now called Rah-e-Haq Party) assassinated the renowned (Shia) eye consultant Ali Haider and his 11-year-old son Murtaza.

The only reason behind the murder had it the victims were Shia Muslims.

However, colleagues, friends and patients of Dr Ali Haider had reacted with shock and sadness at the murders.

Family

Dr Haider had deep roots within the medical community. He was the only son of Dr Syed Zafar Haider, who retired as professor of surgery from King Edward Medical University.

His mother Dr Tahira also served as assistant professor in KEMU, retiring in 1997, while his sister Dr Zara currently serves in the same post at the university.

His father-in-law was renowned neurosurgeon Prof Raja Iftikhar Ali Khan, who died in a small plane crash near Multan six years ago.

He was also the nephew of former Lahore High Court judge Syed Afzal Haider.

Murtaza, his son was studying in class 7 but Dr Haider had a 15-year-old son, Asad as well.

The latter was studying as O level student at Aitchison College. He also had a daughter around six months prior to his martyrdom.

Three takfiri terrorists killed during security forces operation in Mir Ali

Ejaz, a KEMU employee and a close friend of Dr Ali Haider and his family for 20 years, said that Dr Haider and his family were polite and humble and treated everyone well.

Dr Haider’s mother had taught her maid’s son to read and write herself, he said.

He said that Dr Haider held a free eye camp in his native town, Haveli Lakha, every year where he distributed lenses worth around Rs1 million for free. The family had undertaken several development projects in the town as well.

As was the family tradition, he did his MBBS from KEMU.

Later, he spent some time in England before returning to Lahore to work at Mayo Hospital.

He also stayed there till he became assistant professor, colleagues said. He later moved to Lahore General Hospital.

Notably, he also treated patients with retina tumours at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust Hospital.