BADIN: Activists of the Hindu-Christian Party along with those of the Quami Awami Tehreek on Saturday held a rally against what they described as the government’s failure to protect minorities from kidnapping for ransom, killings on communal grounds and abduction of girls for forced conversion. They rally set off from the Tando Bango bus stand and ended outside the local press club.

Speaking to the protesters, Jeewan Kumar, Sachal Halepoto, Francis Kolhi and others claimed that excesses against members of the minority communities in the province had been on the rise over the past few years but the government had failed to arrest and punish culprits of killings, kidnappings, forced conversion and other heinous crimes against Hindus and Christians.

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The protesters carrying banners and placards raised slogans against religious extremism, fundamentalism and intolerance.

‘Honour killing’

A 25-year-old man, Aslam Lakko, was shot dead allegedly by a brother of his wife in Ghamani Khaskheli village near Talhar town on Saturday.

SHO of the Dando police station Syed Sajjad Hussain Shah said the victim had contracted a freewill marriage with a Khaskheli woman against the consent of her family some two years ago.

The family of Mr Lakko, an employee of the Dando rural health centre, alleged that he was shot dead by his brother-in-law, Fida Hussain Khaskhli, with the help of some friends, in the name of honour.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2014