March 5, 2002	Tuesday	Zilhaj 20, 1422

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BADIN, March 4: A complete strike was observed in Badin on Monday to protest against the picking up of a fish contractor, Ashiq Ali Khwaja, allegedly by members of a ‘law enforcement agency’ on Sunday even though he was let off after a couple of hours.

People closed their shops and ended their business for the day so as to join the protest rally, which was led by Ashfaq Memon, Shahnawaz Siyal, Ali Ahmed Jokhio, Ismail Pathan, and Sadiq Khwaja.

Some 400 people marched through the main thoroughfares of the city and held a sit in at the main chowk of the Kazia canal. Later, they ended their protest on the assurance of the Nazims of three union councils of the city — Advocate M. Essa Mallah, Abdul Karim Channa, and Dr Abdul Aziz Memon — that an FIR would be lodged against the accused.

The police is not taking the matter seriously on the plea that it related to “money transaction”.

Mr Ashiq termed his ‘kidnapping’ victimization. He filed a petition against the agency concerned in the Sindh High Court regarding the disputed amount of the fish contract.

Meanwhile, several organizations in the city have condemned the incident. They said the manner in which the men of the agency had behaved was most objectionable.

It may be recalled that Mr Ashiq had been kidnapped by personnel of an agency on Shahbaaz Road on Sunday. He was badly beaten up when he tried to offer resistance.

He was released after a few hours when the district police intercepted the ‘law enforcement agency’ near Tando Ghulam Haider on the Badin-Hyderabad road. The latter introduced themselves as “members of a law enforcement agency”.

Immediately after Mr Ashiq was taken away, youths started burning tyres and warned that if he was not released, then the entire responsibility would rest on the shoulders of the district administration.