Targeted: Murder of cleric triggers tension in Shikarpur

Residents staged a sit-in on main Indus Highway; traffic blocked for several hours

SUKKUR: A complete shutter down strike was observed in Shikarpur and Khanpur on Thursday in retaliation for the murder of the Shia Ulema Action Committee leader, Maulvi Shafqat Abbas Mutahiri. Meanwhile, police claim to have arrested several suspects for their alleged involvement in the murder.

According to sources, Maulvi Mutahiri, a resident of Khanpur, district Shikarpur, had gone to Shikarpur to visit some relatives. On the way back to Khanpur, three motorcyclists intercepted his motorcycle and opened fire at him, killing him on the spot. Subsequently, the assailants fled from the scene.

As word about the incident spread, hundreds of residents converged at the Indus Highway and staged a sit-in, bringing traffic between the two cities to a halt. The protesters demanded immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the murder of Maulvi Mutahiri. They also raised slogans against the police, who according to them, had failed to protect he lives and property of the common man.

A police party reached the spot and negotiated with the protesters, assuring them of early justice, after which the blockade ended. Later, the body was shifted to Civil Hospital, Shikarpur, for autopsy and then handed over to the relatives.

Meanwhile, Khanpur police has registered an FIR against six persons, including Ghulam Mustafa Shar, Abdullah Brohi, Mohammad Akram Arain and Asghar Ali Arain. When contacted at Khanpur police station, the assistant head constable, Habibullah, said that a case was registered against six persons, out of which four are nominated and two are unidentified.

He claimed that they had arrested Ghulam Mustafa Shar and raids were being conducted for the arrest of the remaining accused.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 14^th, 2014.