PPP MPA ‘harassed’ by motorcyclists in Lyari

Shazia was chased when she was visiting building collapse site

KARACHI: Shazia Karim Sanghar, a Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA from Lyari, was reportedly harassed by unknown men near her home earlier this week.

Sanghar, who had already been facing threats since she became an MPA on a reserved seat, was chased by two motorcyclists on Mauripur Road on Thursday.

The lawmaker was on her way to visit the site of a building collapse in Khadda Market, accompanied by two women workers and a driver. Sensing the danger, her driver turned the vehicle in a street to avoid a possible attack.

"Yes, unknown men tried to harass my wife," confirmed Abdul Karim, the MPA's husband, while talking to The Express Tribune, adding that the culprits appeared to be from the area and one of them was wearing a helmet.

It is pertinent to mention here that Sanghar has been facing threats since she was selected by her party as an MPA on the reserved seat and has reportedly received several threatening phone calls from Afghanistan. She had filed a complaint with the PPP leadership on the matter.

Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Syed Murad Ali Shah had ordered an investigation and asked then-Sindh police chief Dr Kaleem Imam to provide her security.

Karim said his wife had not yet been provided security despite the CM's orders, adding that they had not informed the police about the latest incident due to lack of trust.

The police do not take such threats against female legislators seriously, he claimed. "Late MPA Shahnaz Ansari had also requested security, but it was not provided to her and she was eventually easily targeted," Karim said, referring to Ansari's murder in February.

In the phone threats, Sanghar was reportedly warned not to leave her home, while the callers also provided information about her home and children's schools.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 14^th, 2020.