SUKKUR: Members of journalists’ organisations and activists of social and nationalist parties staged processions and rallies in several Sindh towns on Sunday in protest against targeted-killing of journalists Jan Mohammad Mahar and Nasrullah Gadani, abduction of Priya Kumari, growing unrest and raging tribal feuds and terrorism.

In Sukkur, a large number of people, including journalists and social activists, took out a procession to record protest against the journalists’ murder and kidnapping of Priya Kumari. The procession marched from the Globe Chowk and concluded at the Dolphin Chowk.

Imdad Phulpoto, Sahil Jogi, Javed Memon and others, who led the protest, said that instead of arresting killers of the slain journalists, Sindh government was busy saving their own skin. Almost three years had passed now, but Priya Kumari could not be recovered, they lamented.

The journalists demanded chief minister, Sindh IGP and Sukkur DIG remove SSP of Ghotki and establish a judicial commission for inquiry into Nasrullah Gadani’s murder.

Likewise, they said, the killers of Mahar should be arrested and their patrons and facilitators should also be punished. Priya Kumari should be recovered immediately, they said

In Khanpur Mahar, Ghotki district, a large number of people including journalists, social activists and people from all walks of life staged a rally, on a call given by Sindh Sahafi Ittihad, demanding immediate arrest of the killers of two journalists and safe recovery of Priya.

The demonstrators began the procession from Punj Gullo Chowk and reached the press club where they staged a demonstration and observed a sit-in.

They said the slain journalists were voices of the oppressed and downtrodden and paid the price for writing the truth with their lives. Though joint investigation teams (JITs) had been formed, yet Priya Kumari had not been recovered so far, they said.

They demanded immediate arrest of the killers of the slain journalists and the recovery Priya Kumari.

In Kandhkot, a large number of people including journalists, social activists, leaders of nationalist and religious parties took out a procession on call of protest given by Aman Bahali Tehreek.

They marched from Ghanta Ghar and reached press club where they staged a demonstration protest.

The protesters’ leaders said that unrest was on the rise in Sindh and police’s writ was challenged by a handful of dacoits and outlaws. Due to police’s incompetence, innocent people, including women, were being killed in tribal feuds and citizens were being kidnaped in upper Sindh, they said.

They claimed that Gadani was killed by tribal chieftains. Mahar’s murderers were being patronised and facilitated by chieftains and landlords that was why they [killers] had not been arrested till this day, they said.

The protesters appealed to Supreme Court, president and prime minister to take serious notice of rising lawlessness in Sindh, arrest killers of the slain journalist and recover Priya Kumari immediately.

In Jacobabad, members of civil society, Pakistan Peoples Party-Shaheed Bhutto, Sindh United Party and journalists marched on different roads and demanded killers slain journalist be arrested and Priya Kumari be recovered immediately.

In Nawabshah, journalists in Nawabshah and Naushahro Feroze staged demonstrations and said that police had so far failed to arrest the killers of slain journalists and recover Priya Kumari.

They demanded authorities arrest the killers of journalists and ensure safe recovery of Priya Kumari.

Journalists in Padidan town took out a rally which was also joined by social organisations. They demanded immediate arrest of the killers of journalists and demanded safe recovery of Priya Kumari.

Similar protests were staged in Kandiaro and Qazi Ahmed towns.

Published in Dawn, June 3rd, 2024