KARACHI: Probe into MPA's killing ordered - Tension in parts of Malir
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, March 7: Parts of Malir and Al-Falah society remained in the grip of tension on Sunday, as the aftermath of the killing of Sindh assembly's opposition member, Abdullah Murad.
Despite a heavy deployment of law enforcers in the troubled areas, the people, as a mark of protest against the brutal killing of the MPA, took to the streets, lit bonfire and pelted the moving vehicles with stones.
During the hide-and-seek, which continued throughout the day, between the law enforcers and protesters, the mob was baton-charged and was forced to disperse in narrow lanes and bylanes in the areas.
The protesters gathered at Daud Goth in Ghazi Town, Malir, where they raised slogans against the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and blamed it for the killing. The indolent mob tried to approach Sharea Faisal but the law enforcers erected barricade to block its way. The protesters pelted the law enforcers with stones, forcing police to fire teargas shells and use baton-charge to disperse them.
The window-panes of several parked and moving vehicles in the troubled areas were smashed by the protesters. The police and Rangers continued patrolling the tense localities to maintain law and order.
A police official said: "We have picked up some miscreants in the troubled areas." He, however, did not disclose the figure of those picked up. Abdul Razzak Raja, member of the PPP in Malir, claimed that 150 party workers had been picked up and lodged in different lockups, adding the police was not releasing them.
The police admitted, on Saturday, to have picked up 35 people for their involvement in the violence that broke out soon after the killing of Mr Baloch. On Sunday, Al-Falah, Saudabad, Malir-15, Daud Goth, Bahoo Goth and Green Town remained disturbed. The shops in the areas remained closed to mourn the death of the MPA.
Mr Abdullah Murad, along with his chauffeur, was sprayed with bullets on the Jamia Millia Road on Saturday morning. Meanwhile, Sindh governor and the chief minister have asked the chief justice of the Sindh High Court to initiate a judicial inquiry into the killings of the MPA and his driver.
In a press statement, issued here on Sunday by the Sindh Home Department, Sindh Governor Ishratul Ibad and Sindh Chief Minister Sardar Ali Mohammad Mahar asked the chief justice to appoint a tribunal, comprising a judge of the high court, to conduct judicial inquiry into the killings.
The police had not registered an FIR of the killings, despite a lapse of over 36 hours. The complainant, Nawab Baloch, had been insisting on nominating the leadership of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and Governor Ibad in the FIR.
Ghulam Akbar, a duty officer at the Al-Falah police station, said around 10:30pm: "FIR has not been registered so far."
Abdul Ghani Baloch, brother of the slain MPA, remained at the police station till late on Saturday night. The would-be complainant Nawab Baloch, along with the members of the PPP Parliamentarians, again arrived at the police station on Sunday evening to get an FIR registered.
However, the police high-ups and the government officials negotiated with the complainant and the PPPP members to stop them from nominating any particular person and to convince them to register an FIR against unidentified killers, police sources said.
The complainant was ready to forgo mentioning of particular names in the FIR, but he insisted that the words 'killing was committed at the behest of the leadership of the Muttahida' should be included in the FIR, the sources added.
Mr Razzak said: "If the police do not register the FIR with the contents, we want to include in the FIR, we will not register the case and consider another option." The negotiations were in progress till our going to press.
