KARACHI, May 9: A number of Islami Jamiat Talaba activists on Monday managed to reach in front of Sindh Assembly building and held sit-in against government’s failure in arresting killers of its slain worker, Farhan Asif. Heavy contingents of police and other law enforcing agencies were deployed around Sindh Assembly building to prevent IJT workers to reach the assembly building. Despite baton charge by the police, a large number of IJT workers recorded their protest by holding a sit-in at the assembly building. Several activists sustained injuries and many others were picked up by the personnel of law enforcing agencies.

Led by their nazim and other members of Shura, protesting IJT workers were carrying portraits of their colleague, Farhan Asif, placards and banners inscribed with slogans against Sindh government and its key ally Muttahida Qaumi Movement for its failure.

Addressing the protesters, IJT Nazim Tahir Akbar warned government that if it remained reluctant to arrest the killers of Farhan Asif, thousands of IJT workers would besiege Governor’s House.

“If students can reach in front of Sindh Assembly despite hurdles, barricades and baton charge by the police, they can also reach in front of Governor’s House and inside assembly building,” he added.

He said that students were still peaceful and demanding arrest of their colleague’s killers in a peaceful manner but police tried to provoke them by resorting to baton charge.

“Police has become B-team of Muttahida Qaumi Movement by protecting the killers of Farhan Asif, present in its ranks and files,” he charged adding that due to the governor and home minister’s pressure, police are not registering FIR against nominated persons.

Speaking to protesters, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal MPAs Maulana Umer Sadiq, Nasarullah Shajee and Younus Barai, who joined them at the gate of Sindh Assembly, termed the baton charge terrorism.

They said that the government was trying to provoke students to resort to violence, saying non-arrest of their colleague’s killers, attacks on students at colleges and universities and other such steps were aimed at terrorizing people of Karachi. MMA leaders warned government of strong protest if FIR against Farhan’s killers was not registered. —PPI