HYDERABAD, June 4: Over 100 villagers of Rahu, Jamali and Pangharo Jagir dehs, Hala taluka, staged a protest demonstration against chairmen of local Zakat committees and audit officer of Hala outside the press club here on Tuesday.

Talking to newsmen, Zaman Jamali and others accused the chairmen of Zakat committees, Gul Hassan Jamali, Mohammad Ashraf Jamali and Arbab Kerio, and audit officer Din Mohammad Kerio of taking “commission” on the distribution of Zakat and other packages for the needy people.

They demanded an impartial inquiry into the matter.

HUNGER STRIKE: A group of people, including women and children, under the banner of the Marui Samaji Taraqqiati Tanzeem, staged a token hunger strike outside the press club here on Tuesday.

They were protesting against the arrest and torture of a journalist Allah Warayo Bozdar in Ghotki.

Led by Ms Zaibunnisa Mallah, the protesters raised slogans against the Ghotki police.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms Mallah said the journalist had been arrested and tortured at the behest of some influential people of the area. She said the only fault of Mr Bozdar was that he had exposed the tyranny of the police and the landlords of his area.

She demanded the immediate release of the journalist, dismissal of SHO Aslam Langah and a judicial inquiry into the incident.

Meanwhile, the journalists of Tandojam, at a meeting held at the Tandojam Press Club on Monday, condemned the arrest and torture of Bozdar.

They demanded of the government to take action against the police officers concerned.

The activists of the Sindh Rural Development Society, Tandojam, also staged a protest demonstration outside the Tandojam Press Club against the arrest and torture of Bozdar.