Traffic blocked: JUI-F demands referral of Khalid Mehmood Soomro’s murder case to military court

A large number of activists block National Highway across Sindh

SUKKUR: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam - Fazl (JUI-F) workers staged sit-ins on National Highway across Sindh on Saturday, demanding that the murder case of their former secretary-general be referred to the military court. The move paralysed traffic between Sindh and other provinces.

The sit-ins were staged at Babarlo Bypass near Sukkur, at Lakhi Ghulam Shah, at Indus Highway in Jacobabad and Kashmore-Kandhkot districts, in Naudero near Larkana and other areas.

The secretary-general of JUI-F Sindh chapter, Rashid Mehmood Soomro, who was elected for the post after his father Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro's murder in Sukkur in November 2014, had announced to block the highways across Sindh on December 26 if the Sindh government failed to refer his father's case to the military court. On Sunday night, the Sindh chief minister and home minister contacted Rashid Soomro and requested him to postpone their protest. They promised to refer Khalid Soomro's murder case to the military court. However, Rashid Soomro refused to postpone the protest, demanding written assurance.

Hundreds of JUI-F workers blocked the National Highway at 18 places throughout Sindh, due to which traffic between Sindh and other provinces came to a grinding halt. In Sukkur, a sit-in was staged at National Highway near Babarlo Bypass, which connects Sindh and Punjab. As a result, a massive traffic jam was observed at both the sides of the highway. A newlywed couple was also stuck in the traffic jam, who was on their way to Karachi after their wedding in Rahim Yar Khan.

Speaking on the occasion, the leaders of the JUI-F strongly condemned Sindh for its delaying tactics regarding the case of Khalid Soomro. They said that their sit-ins will continue across Sindh till the Sindh government issues notification for referring the murder case to the military court. They added that if the notification is not issued, they will stage a sit-in in Naudero and Garhi Khuda Bux today (Sunday).

At around 1:30pm, the Nazim of JUI-F Sindh chapter and Ameer of Sukkur district, Maulana Saud Afzal, announced that the Sindh government has entered into a written agreement with the party, according to which, the case of Khalid Soomro is being transferred to the military court. Addressing the protesters, he asked them to disperse peacefully. "If the government fails to fulfil its promise, we will once again stage sit-ins in Naudero and at Zardari House in Shaheed Benazirabad," he said.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Afzal said that the Sindh government, according to an agreement with the JUI-F, has promised to refer Khalid Soomro's murder case to the military court within the next 10 days.

He said that the Sindh government was supporting the murderers and plotters, which is why they wanted the case to be transferred to the military court. He was hopeful that besides the murderers, the plotters and facilitators will also be brought to justice by the military court.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2015.