The provincial food minister Nasir Hussain Shah, addressing a press conference at his house in Rohri, claimed that Rangers had not cordoned off the home minister’s house in Larkana. PHOTO: PPI
A heavy contingent of the paramilitary force and police jointly raided different villages in Bakrani taluka, including village Pathan Abro, and conducted a house-to-house search.
Reports said that during the raids, Rangers arrested more than 20 suspects, including Pathan Abro, Akbar Abro, Dost Mohammad Abro, Rafiq Abro, Gulab Abro, Munawar Abro, Iqbal Abro, Niaz Abro and Ayaz Abro.
One of the suspects, Pathan, is said to be wanted to the police in 15 cases of heinous crimes. He is also said to be a close friend of Kharal, who has reportedly gone into hiding after being pursued by the Rangers.
On Saturday, Rangers Director-General Major General Bilal Akbar met Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and home minister Sohail Sial, who was flown in for the meeting from Larkana on a special helicopter to the CM House.
Sohail has been accused by the Rangers of aiding the illegal release of Kharal - a junior clerk at Bakrani taluka municipal administration - from the custody of Rangers officials who went to his house on July 12 to arrest him on corruption charges.
Kharal is said to have close ties with the Sial brothers.
The Rangers chief reportedly told the CM that Kharal and the home minister’s younger brother should be given up or else the paramilitary force will take whatever action it deems fit.
Later in the day, Rangers once again cordoned off all the roads leading to the Sial House at Bakrani road Larkana and conducted snap-checking. In the meantime, the home minister reached the site, and seeing the situation, left for his native village Mud Faridabad along with his family, according to official sources.
‘I don’t trust the police’
On the other hand, senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, Baboo Sarwar Sial, who has levelled serious allegations against the home minister, including of his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of the Sindh High Court chief justice’s son in Karachi recently, has refused to record his statement with the police citing trust issues as the force comes under the home minister.
Talking to The Express Tribune on the phone from his village near Larkana, Baboo said “I don’t trust them because they are under Sohail Sial.” He said he is ready to record his statement with the Rangers and intelligence officials.
Explaining his past association with Sohail, he said they had closely cooperated during the by-elections on PS-35, Bakrani. “Our differences started during the local government elections [in 2015] when he refused to give me a couple of seats for my party workers,” he said, adding that after that the minister fabricated false cases against him which also led to a brief arrest.
All is well
Meanwhile, the provincial food minister Nasir Hussain Shah, addressing a press conference at his house in Rohri, claimed that Rangers had not cordoned off the home minister’s house in Larkana.
“Rather, they are doing snap checking in different areas which is a routine matter,” he explained. The home minister is a powerful figure and cordoning off his house is not that easy, he said, adding that neither has anyone asked for his resignation nor will anyone do so.
He claimed that the entire episode [of Kharal evading arrest] was the outcome of a misunderstanding, which has since been sorted out.
He said the Pakistan Peoples Party never sides with the criminals or corrupt people, adding that “We are politicians and therefore meet with different people without even knowing their background.”
He also refuted the claims of Baboo Sial, questioning Baboo’s reluctance to record his statement with the police.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2016.
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