LARKANA/HYDERABAD: The legal fraternity of Larkana has announced a boycott of court proceedings on Friday over police action against participants of a sit-in, held in Babarloi town of Khairpur district to demand safe recovery of missing children.
Members of the Larkana District Bar Association held a demonstration on Thursday against the baton-charge on the protesters and arrest of several people, including the lawyers who had joined the sit-in.
The association’s President Javed Buledi, General Secretary Amir Soho, Qadir Bakhsh Bhatti, Shafqat Raza Jatoi and Aftab Chandio condemned the police action, saying that holding peaceful protest is the right of every citizen. They demanded released of all arrested protesters, repeated the demand for immediate recovery of all missing children, including Priya Kumari, who had gone missing in her childhood on Ashura day, Aug 19, 2021, in the Sangrar town of Sukkur district.
In a press release, Larkana HCBA General Secretary Asif Hussain Chandio saidthat “endorsing a call given by the Sindh Bar Council, a complete boycott of court proceedings will be observed on Friday to strongly condemn the baton-charge on peaceful protesters demonstrating for the safe recovery of Priya Kumari and other missing children.
The legal fraternity reiterates its commitment to the rule of law, protection of fundamental rights and the immediate recovery of all missing children, according to Mr Chandio.
SUP, AT also condemn police
Sindh United Party (SUP) president Syed Zain Shah has also condemned the baton-charge on those who were holding the sit-in.
In a statement issued on Thursday, he claimed that some of the protesters had also gone missing during the police action. He said that it was highly condemnable that protesters were subjected to lathi-charge despite the fact that they were peacefully holding the protest. He also alleged that journalists were prevented from performing their professional duties.
He said that journalist Suhail Jogi and others should be released without delay.
The SUP leader also condemned shelling in the Wadh district of Balochistan which caused death of a citizen. He expressed concern over the incident and said that it was regrettable that innocent lives and properties of citizens were not safe. He said that it was incumbent upon state to protect and lives and property of citizens.
He demanded an impartial inquiry into the incident, and said that those who received injuries in the incident should be provided medical treatment. He said that respect for the rule of law, human rights and media freedom would guarantee stability.
Latif Palijo alleges govt’s role
President Qaumi Awami Tehreek, Ayaz Latif Palijo in his statement deplored the use of force by the police against participants of peaceful sit-in at Babarloi.
He said that protesters including family members and lawyers were among the protesters, and alleged that the police subjected them to violence under government’s directives. He said that it appeared that raising voice for their rights had become a crime.
He also slated that the Arab Solangi village in Thatta district was dismantled and residents’ goods were looted.
Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2026