ISLAMABAD: The Senate’s human rights committee is set to review progress in a number of recent incidents of murder, kidnapping and targeted killing in various parts of the country at its meeting on Monday (today), Dawn has learnt.

The Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights headed by Senator Walid Iqbal of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has summoned inspectors general of police (IGPs) of Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and additional chief secretaries of the three provinces for the meeting to brief the members about the progress in the cases reported in their respective jurisdictions.

According to the agenda issued by the Senate Secretariat for the meeting, the committee is scheduled to take up the cases of the killing of Nazim Jokhio in Thatta (Sindh), target killing of a media person and a social activist in Malakand (KP), “the alleged target killing of social activist Sheeba Gul and her father in Malakand (KP) by land grabbers”, the alleged murder of an innocent woman Rabia alias Jawaria in Swabi (KP), alleged kidnapping of two university students in Balochistan and target killings of Sikh community people in KP.

Three IGPs summoned for briefing today

The issues had been referred to the committee by Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani during Senate sittings held in Nov­ember last year when senators belonging to the treasury and the opposition drew the attention of the house towards these incidents while speaking on matters of public importance.

PTI Senator Saifullah Abro had raised the issue of the murder of Nazim Jokhio on November 3 last year, terming it a “murder of Pakistan and Sindh”.

While raising the issue, Mr Abro had targeted the Sindh government led by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for the incident, and alleged that target killings had become a “trend” in the province.

Some PPP senators protested over Mr Abro’s remarks and attempted to interrupt him, but the chairman allowed the PTI senator to continue his speech. Mr Abro had alleged that innocent people were being killed by feudal lords and it seemed that there was no government in Sindh. He had alleged that the so-called democratic government in Sindh had made the whole province a “police state”.

The 27-year-old employee of Karachi District Council, Nazim Jokhio, was allegedly killed for reportedly filming a video of some foreign hunters and uploading it on social media in a bid to stop foreigners from hunting, after which his body with torture marks was found.

According to his wife Shirin Jokhio, he was also known for his social service in the area, helping people with small tasks.

Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Sheikh during a meeting with the family of Nazim Jokhio in Salar Goth village of Malir district on Saturday had announced that Prime Minister Imran Khan had formed a joint investigation team to probe the murder.

Speaking to the media, the opposition leader claimed that the victim’s family was being coerced by feudal lords to settle and withdraw the case, adding that the Sardari system had destroyed entire Sindh. He said he had seen the body of Jokhio with signs of torture on every part.

Earlier, the police had informed a court that Nazim Jokhio was tortured to death during alleged illegal detention at the farmhouse of a PPP MPA.

The issue of the alleged target killings of social worker Mohammad Zada Agarwal and a political activist Umar Hayat in Malakand area in November last year had been raised by Senator Fida Muhammad of the PTI, Bahramand Khan Tangi of the PPP and Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI).

Social worker Mohammad Zada Agrawal had been killed on Nov 8 in Dargai area of Malakand for raising voice against the drug mafia, kidnappers and other social evils prevailing in society, according to the senators.

According to the meeting agenda, the committee members are set to receive a briefing from the KP’s IGP on the issue of target killings of minorities, especially in KP, with particular reference to different incidents in which 10 Sikhs were targeted to death, including the murder of Hakeem Sardar Satnam Singh who was killed in Peshawar on Sept 30 last year.

Unknown assailants had gunned down the Sikh hakeem in his clinic near Charsadda Bus Stand in the limits of Faqirabad police station.

The Senate committee is also set to review the progress in the case of the murder of a social activist Sheeba Gul, who was shot dead along with her father on Sept 30 in Khar area of Malakand district, two weeks after she had asked for protection amid death threats from influential land grabbers.

On Sept 11, Sheeba — daughter of Karim Bakhsh while addressing a news conference at Peshawar Press Club — had said the notorious land mafia had occupied her ancestral property with connivance of local administration.

Despite the court verdict, the victim had claimed that the authorities concerned were not taking any action against the accused.

The victim went on to say that the accused had threatened her family of serious consequences, including issuing life threat. Sheeba said she had also made a written complaint against the accused to the authorities but to no avail.

The Sheeba’s family had appealed to the chief justice of Pakistan, the KP chief minister and other authorities to ensure justice and take the culprits to the task.

Published in Dawn, January 3rd, 2022