KARACHI: Police on Wednesday conducted a raid on the DHA residence of former federal minister and opposition leader Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi for the arrest of his son booked in a murder case.

However, Jatoi family and opposition parties condemned the move and accused the Pakistan Peoples Party leadership of victimising their political opponents.

South SSP Sajid Amir Sadozai confirmed to Dawn that the Naushahro Feroze police conducted the raid for the arrest of Murtaza Jatoi’s son Bilawal.

Another officer, who wished not to be named, said that the Karachi police accompanied the Naushahro Feroze police because of their jurisdiction but they did not take part in the action.

Police say opposition leader’s son wanted in murder case; GDA accuses PPP of political victimisation

Naushahro Feroze SSP Saddam Hussain Khaskheli told Dawn that a murder case was registered against Grand Democratic Alliance leader Murtaza Jatoi and his son Bilawal and the elder Jatoi got bail but his son hadn’t.

“The raid was conducted for the arrest of Murtaza Jatoi’s son,” he said.

Bilawal’s mother Naveen Jatoi told Dawn that around 25 police vans besieged Jatoi House in DHA at around 3:15am. She said she was alone at home when three ‘nice’ policewomen entered followed several policemen who also ‘misbehaved’ with her.

She said earlier their residence in their hometown in New Jatoi was also raided by 75 police vans including armoured personnel carriers.

Accusing the PPP leadership of political victimisation, she said such tactics aimed at forcing Murtaza Jatoi to join the ruling party in Sindh, but he would not “bow before PPP”.

Ms Naveen said that the police registered the murder case against her husband and son at the behest of the PPP leadership. She said she would not hand over her son to the police as she feared that they would ‘torture’ him.

GDA condemns raid

The Grand Democratic Alliance strongly condemned the raid on the residence of Mr Jatoi and blamed the PPP-led Sindh government for resorting to negative tactics only to silence the opposition.

In a statement issued by GDA’s Dr Safdar Abbasi, Zain Shah, Ayaz Latif Palijo, Dr Fahmida Mirza and others said that Mr Jatoi’s family was being punished for the crime of contesting Feb 8 general elections against the incumbent home minister.

They demanded that the apex court and Sindh High Court take notice of the highhandedness of the provincial government and police and ensure the fundamental rights of the citizens.

Published in Dawn, March 28th, 2024