HYDERABAD: Heirs of Irfan Leghari and Zahid Leghari — who were killed in the May 20 violence in Moro town of Naushahro Feroze district — have refused to appear before the inquiry committee formed by the Sindh Inspector General of Police.

The two men were among scores of people injured when police used force against participants of a sit-in. The protest was held against controversial six-canals and corporate farming plans. Zahid had died on the spot and Irfan succumbed to his injuries during treatment a couple of days later.

Their heirs were called to appear before the IGP’s inquiry committee in Moro on Saturday to record their statements but they declined arguing that they wanted a judicial inquiry into the incident.

The inquiry team, headed by DIG Irfan Baloch waited for the heirs till 4pm on Saturday and then left Moro when they were told that the heirs were not willing to appear before them.

The heirs were contacted through a local religious leader who had been in touch with police in connection with the arrest of some suspects belonging to the deceased victims’ families.

The team also heard owners of a filling station, located in the violence-hit area, to record their statement.

The residence of a provincial minister, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, in Moro and a couple of heavy vehicles was torched during the violent incidents.

The inquiry team found that four submachine guns were snatched from policemen by some miscreants.

One of the sources close to the inquiry team said that “police incompetence appears to be there because the incident occurred despite deployment of police in the area. SHOs and DSPs were there yet such major incident occurred”.

The police probe team found out that the two Legharis died as a result of crossfire between police and the other side. The team had also met DIG Benazirabad Parvez Chandio, who just repeated his statement mentioning how he coordinated with the SSPs concerned and reached the spot. The team would hold a sitting in Karachi on Monday before finalising its findings.

Moro under siege

According to Advocate Khuda Bux Leghari, who reached Moro on Sunday, the heirs told him that how could they meet police who had killed their loved-ones. “They said that even today Moro is under virtual siege,” he told Dawn over phone while returning from Moro.

According to Advocate Noor Ahmed Tunio, the Legharis’ heirs included Waisa Ali, Darshan Ali and Manzoor Leghari. He said eight FIRs were so far registered against Legharis. Three FIRs were registered in Shikarpur and five in Moro. He added that Nashad Leghari, Ghulam Mustafa, Ali Jan, Mureed Khan and Farhan Leghari were booked in these FIRs after the May 20 incident.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2025