Nakyal killing: AJK police detain 20 PML-N workers

Faryal Talpur visits family of slain PPP worker

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu & Kashmir police have arrested at least 20 suspects for their involvement in the murder of a political activist during a rally on February 14. Among the 73 people booked for the deadly clash is a suspect who died seven years ago.

One Pakistan Peoples Party worker was killed and four more were wounded in a clash with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz activists on Sunday at a pre-poll rally ahead of the elections to the AJK Legislative Assembly planned for June.





The incident has soured relations between the AJK and the federal governments, with leaders from both sides holding each other responsible for the clash and the resulting death. The AJK government also observed a ‘black day’ on Monday to protest against the alleged highhandedness of the ruling party in the Centre.

On Tuesday however, the Nakyal police registered the FIR of the clash between PML-N and PPP supporters against Waqar Afsar, who reportedly died about seven years ago in an accident in the same area.

Out of the 73 people nominated in the case, police have so far rounded up about 20 PML-N workers from different areas of Nakyal in Kotli sector in the past two days.

Meanwhile, PPP’s AJK Political Affairs head Faryal Talpur visited Nakyal on Tuesday to offer condolences to the family of the slain party activist, 65-year-old Chaudhry Munshi.



She called on AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed to investigate the party worker’s killing on priority basis to deliver justice to the family. “Being a party worker I request PM Majeed should order immediate investigation of Munshi’s killing,” MNA Talpur said. She was accompanied by the AJK ministers and senior party leaders.



She also requested the PML-N leadership and federal ministers to desist from issuing irresponsible statements ahead of the general elections in the region.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 17^th,  2016.