KARACHI: Trouble erupted again in Liaquatabad and Burns Road on Monday [July 24] and Tuesday, in which at least two persons were killed by firing and over nine were injured. On Monday, residents of Liaquatabad and Nazimabad observed Hartal in sympathy with the strike by journalists, Press workers and other employees of the newspaper industry. While shops remained closed, young people and small boys set up road blocks and stopped vehicles plying in these areas. They also stoned public and private vehicles.

When police moved in to remove the roadblocks, the boys stoned them. The police, in reply, tear-gassed the boys. Later, the Rangers were put on patrol duty. But the Rangers were also not allowed to remove the roadblocks by the boys who also made bonfires... . When the Rangers tried to clear these roadblocks, they were subjected to stoning. The Rangers retaliated by opening fire, killing one of the boys — Ismail — and injuring eight others. The District Magistrate, however, said that the Rangers were fired upon first by some people from house-tops. — Staff reporter

[Meanwhile, as reported by the newspaper’s correspondent from Colombo,] The Indian Foreign Secretary ... said India should judge Pakistan by its deeds in implementing the Simla Agreement rather than by words used in the Pakistan National Assembly.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2022