SUKKUR: Sindh Food Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has rejected media reports about cordoning off of the locality housing the residence of Home Minister Suhail Anwar Siyal by Rangers personnel a couple of days ago and termed them “baseless and fabricated”.

Speaking at a press conference at his Rohri residence late on Sunday evening, Mr Shah also rejected certain allegations against the home minister and his brother, Tariq Siyal, relating to the July 13 episode in Larkana where some influential people got a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) activist, Asad Kharal, freed from the custody of law-enforcers.

A National Accountability Bureau (NAB) team investigating a Rs500 million scam had arrested Kharal after carrying out a search of his house in Larkana on July 13. The team was escorted by Rangers personnel. A large number of people allegedly led by Tariq Siyal intervened to get Kharal freed while he was being taken away by the NAB team and Rangers personnel for interrogation. The episode caused tension between the provincial government and paramilitary force.

In the meantime, a Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) activist from Larkana, Babu Siyal, held a press conference and levelled serious allegations against the home minister and his brother. He claimed that Kharal was the front-man of the Siyals and involved in corruption, kidnappings and other crimes. He said Kharal might have been involved in the kidnapping of Barrister Awais Ali Shah, the son of Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah.

While the Sindh government and Rangers were continuing to sort out the July 13 episode, the Rangers director general, Major General Bilal Akbar, in his meeting with Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, reportedly sought his help in the arrest of [Tariq] Siyal and Kharal.

Some media reports also suggested that a reshuffle in the Sindh cabinet was in the offing. However, all such reports were repeatedly denied by several ministers and PPP leaders over the last couple of days.

The food minister also categorically denied the report. “He [Anwar Siyal] is a key minister; he is neither being removed as home minister, nor is he being removed from the cabinet. All such reports are nothing but rumours and I categorically deny them,” he said.

Commenting on the Larkana episode, Nasir Shah said it happened due to misunderstanding caused by circumstances in which the raid on Kharal’s house was conducted. “Members of the raiding team were in plain clothes and the vehicle carrying them to the house had no number plate affixed on it. This had created an impression among people of the neighbourhood that they have stormed the house with intention to kidnap someone.” He said that the home minister had no concerned with criminal elements.

He said that the provincial government had taken notice of Babu Siyal’s false allegations but would ensure his safety and security. He said Kharal was an employee of the Larkana municipality and an active PPP worker.

In reply to a question that how would the government tackle the situation that had now become very clear, the minister said that a thorough investigation into the Larkana episode was under way and anyone found involved in breaching law would be taken to task.

“Nobody is above the law; offenders howsoever influential would have to face action,” he said.

The food minister said that the police and Rangers were jointly carrying out a search and making arrests in Larakana district and good results were expected.

Meanwhile, media reports from Larakana suggested that Rangers on Monday let off 13 of the 35 suspects they had rounded up during the last 24 hours in connection with the Larkana episode.

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2016