KARACHI: A large number of journalists, rights activists and members of civil society marched from the Karachi Press Club to Chief Minister House, demanding arrest of killers of journalist Nasrullah Gadani, who was shot dead in Mirpur Mathelo in May.

The participants in the protest march, which was organised by the Sindh Journalists Council, asked the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to expel the “prime suspect”, MNA Khalid Khan Loond, from the party and de-seat him from the National Assembly.

The family members of the deceased journalist, including his mother, Pathani Gadani, and two brothers also participated in the march and staged a token sit-in outside CM House.

Chanting slogans and carrying placards, the protesters took out the rally from the press club to CM House by passing through Club Road, Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road and M.R. Kayani Road.

The protest as well as the one organised by teachers outside the Sindh Assembly caused a traffic mess on the key roads and nearby streets in the vicinity of the so-called red zone.

Ghazi Jhandir of the Sindh Journalists Council said that the protest was called off for 24 hours after assurance from the Sindh government.

He said Sindh Local Government Minister Saeed Ghani had met the protesters at CM House and assured them to take up the matter with higher authorities and the PPP leadership.

“We have made it clear that if the Sindh government fails to meet two crucial demands — arrest of suspects and expulsion of MNA Loond from the party — the council will resume its protest after 24 hours,” he added.

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2024