NAWABSHAH: Police on Thursday booked Grand Democratic Alliance’s leader Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi, his younger brother Masroor Jatoi and banned Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz’s chairman Shafi Burfat on charges of attacking residence of Sindh home minister in Moro on Tuesday.

Naushahro Feroze police lodged the FIR (No.172/25) against the leaders and several other workers under Sections 6/7 of Anti-Terrorism Act and 324, 353, 436, 337 A-I, A-II H-II, 148, 149, 397, 427, 109, 450, 504, 506/2 of Pakistan Penal Code.

The complainant Dost Ali Solangi, manager of Lanjar House, stated in the FIR that on May 20, a number of suspects attacked Lanjar House in Moro, beat up staff, ransacked furniture and valuables, set fire to the residence using chemical, which burnt down motorcycles, electronic items, and also conducted firing.

He alleged that the attackers were heard saying that they were acting on the directives of their bosses, GDA’s Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi, his brother ex-MPA Masroor Jatoi, former DSP and PTI leader Baz Khan Siyal, head of banned JSMM Shafi Burfat and others.

Chief of proscribed JSMM among others accused of involvement in torching Law Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar’s residence in Moro

Earlier on Wednesday, Moro police had registered two FIRs (No170 and 171) under Section 6/7 ATA and other sections of PPC against 50 nominated and 75 unidentified suspects.

Zahid Legahri laid to rest

Funeral prayer of Zahid Leghari, who was killed during police action against protesters who were agitating against controversial canals and corporate farming in Moro on Tuesday, was held in Leghari Bajarani village.

Leaders of various nationalist organisations, political and social activists, intellectuals, writers, journalists and prominent citizens including JSM leader Dr Niaz Kalani, Punhal Sario, Hashim Khoso, Khalid Bughio, Advocate Aamir Nawaz Warraich, Advocate K.B. Laghari, Advocate Qadir Bux Korai and others attended the last rites.

Judicial probe demanded

Members of the bereaved family demanded the government order a judicial inquiry into the incident and serve justice to all victims.

They said that they were protesting peacefully against the canals and corporate farming but the police unnecessarily used force and opened fire on them, killing their loved one and injuring many others.

They demanded the government withdraw its decision to construct canals on Indus River and shelve corporate farming project in Sindh. They vowed to continue their protest for their rights and justice.

Workers of different nationalist parties blocked National Highway in Moro on Tuesday during a protest against the federal government’s plan for construction of canals on Indus River and corporate farming.

The situation turned violent after police tried to disperse the protesters by using aerial firing and teargas shelling, which resulted in the killing of nationalist worker Zahid Leghari and injuries to several others including police officials. The home minister’s residence was also partially damaged during at attack by suspected protesters.

Leaders booked on basis of evidence: minister

Sindh Minister for Home Ziaul Hasan Lanjar told reporters on Thursday that nomination of Ghulam Murtaza Jatoi and Masroor Jatoi in the FIR was made on the basis of collected evidences. Geo-fencing would further aid the investigation, he said.

He said that police were probing the attack on his house. The sit-in was going on for a couple of days which he himself got ended after reaching Moro, he said.

He said that participation of the banned outfit in the protest could not be possible without connivance of local politicians. They were looking into every aspect of the case, he said.

Naushahro Feroze SSP transferred

IGP Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon transferred Naushahro Feroze SSP Sanghaar Ali in the wake of Moro violence and replaced him with Bashir Ahmed Brohi as new SSP of the district. Sanghaar Ali was asked to report to CPO. Brohi was transferred from Anti Vehicle Lifting Cell to his new posting.

GDA leadership condemn FIRs

The central leaders of the GDA Dr Safdar Ali Abbasi, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, Syed Zain Shah, and Sardar Abdul Rahim have condemned registration of FIRs against the alliance leaders Murtaza Jatoi and Masroor Jatoi.

In a joint statement, they urged Chief Justice of Pakistan and Chief Justice of Sindh High Court to take notice of the fabricated FIRs against the two leaders and ensure justice was served.

They condemned police brutality in Moro, where political workers were subjected to inhuman violence. The Zardari-led PPP was trying to sabotage a peaceful movement, they said.

Instead of registering cases against the police officials responsible for shooting at unarmed political workers and civilians, the authorities had unjustly filed FIRs against a former federal minister and a former MPA, which was highly condemnable, they said.

They said that neither GDA leaders nor its workers were involved in the violent incident in Moro but the violent tactics of the Sindh government were forcing people of Sindh to rise in resistance.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2025