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TEDx speaker killed in bombing

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Irfan-Ali

Yesterday, two bomb blasts ripped through a snooker hall in the town of Quetta in Pakistan, killing 81 people.  We were very saddened to hear that TEDx speaker Irfan Ali, who spoke briefly at TEDxRawalLake just weeks ago, was among those killed.

The organizers of the event shared their sadness with us, through Facebook.

“Irfan Ali was a famous activist who, in his own words, was born to fight for human rights and peace. He said his religion is respect and love for all the religions,” they write. “At TEDxRawalLake, we gave our audience a chance to give their idea on the stage. People came up and gave their ideas, one by one. I saw Irfan Ali noting something, but he didn’t get up right away. We took a break and he came up to the curator and said, ‘I missed it. I would like three minutes.’ The curator said, ‘Okay.’ He spoke after the break and said something which we see daily but don’t notice — he pointed out the issue of taking things for granted in the name of ‘kun k yeh Pakistan hai.’ He ended his speech very passionately. There was something special in his talk — maybe it was honesty. The way he said everything it was just so nice.”

They continue, “No one had in mind that this man on stage will be no more in the next 20 days, He went quietly but left a silent message in his own words: ‘Mere shehr main meri nasal lootne walon, Pata hai beta kis trah jawan hota hai.’ We will miss you, Irfan Ali. God Bless you”

Read more about Irfan Ali on AlJazeera.com. And after the jump, watch his powerful comments from TEDxRawalLake. He will truly be missed.