Death of Bushra Zaidi

Bushra Zaidi was a 20-year-old girl whose death in a traffic accident on April 15, 1985 started riots in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Bushra, a 20-year-old Muhajir student of Sir Syed College, died after being struck by a bus driver. It was thought at the time that the driver was Pashtun.

Incident
The death of Bushra Zaidi occurred on April 15, 1985, and was a significant turning point in the history of Karachi, Pakistan. Bushra, a 20-year-old student at Sir Syed Girls College, tragically lost her life in a traffic accident on Nawab Siddiq Ali Khan Road. The exact details of the accident have been a matter of some confusion and discrepancy, with some reports suggesting that she was killed while alighting from a bus, while others indicate that she was hit by a bus while crossing the road. Her sister, Najma, who was with her during the accident, suffered serious injuries, including a fractured leg.

Riots
The news of Zaidi's death triggered widespread protests and riots across Karachi. Outraged students, joined by female protesters from nearby colleges, gathered at Golimaar Chowrangi to express their anger and frustration. The situation quickly escalated, and protests spread to other areas of the city, resulting in violence and arson. Reports indicate that the riots took an ethnic turn, leading to clashes between various communities residing in the city, further exacerbating the tense situation.