LARKANA: Relatives and sympathisers of a primary schoolteacher, who was gunned down by motorcycle-riding assailants in Nasirabad three days ago, activists of nationalist and political parties blocked the Indus Highway on Monday by staging a sit-in in protest against police failure to arrest the culprits.

Hidayatullah Lohar, who was also activist of a nationalist party besides being a teacher, was buried in Sann town.

Workers of Sindh United Party, Pakistan People’s Party-Shaheed Bhutto, Awami Workers Party, Primary Teachers Associa­tion and family members of the victim dem­anded registration of FIR on the targeted murder.

The victim’s daughters Sassui Lohar and Sorth Lohar and others said that Lohar was murdered in cold blood but police were reluctant to register FIR according to the heirs’ statement.

They announced continuing the sit-in till the FIR was registered and the murder suspects were arrested.

A heavy contingent of police was deployed around the protest venue and vehicular traffic was diverted to alternative routes to avoid gridlock on the highway.

In Nawabshah, activists of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz staged a demonstration against the teacher’s murder.

The protesters led by Sarfaraz Memon, Ali Raza Khaskheli, Munir Abro and others said Lohar was going to school when he was killed by unknown armed men. Nasirabad police were facilitating the killers and instead of arresting the culprits police were harassing the bereaved family, they said.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2024