Bhutto estate manager accused of kidnapping girl

LARKANA: The Bhutto estate’s manager and newly appointed caretaker of the Ghari Khuda Bakhsh mausoleum, Riaz Phulphoto, was arrested for his alleged involvement in a kidnapping case.

An FIR has also been filed against Afshan Kazi and three unidentified persons on the charges of a girl’s kidnapping. The case was filed at the Naudero Police Station on the orders of the President, Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday.

A young girl, Seema Kazi, was kidnapped four months ago. She is the daughter of Allah Warayo Kazi, an employee at the Presidential House in Naudero.

Seema had been learning how to stitch at a training centre in Naudero. She had been last seen with her friend, Afshan Kazi, and had reportedly been kidnapped by some armed men. Months later, no progress had been made on her case.

Seema’s maternal uncle, Ali Gul Magheri, accused Phulphoto and Seema’s friend, Afshan, of kidnapping her.

He met the president in Naudero along with other family members and told Asif Ali Zardari the entire story.

The president took action immediately after the meeting and asked DPO Larkana, Irfan Baloch, and Riaz Phulphoto, to meet him.

They were both inquired about Seema’s kidnapping and then Phulphoto was handed over to the police.

Phulphoto was taken into custody by the SP Investigation Masroor Jatoi, on the orders of the DPO and taken to the Naudero police station. Interrogations led to a case being filed against Afshan and three other persons. Phulphoto is still detained.

Riaz Phulphoto had been assigned to look after the Bhutto family’s mausoleum on Satruday. He replaced Abdul Ghafoor Leghari, who had been the caretaker at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh for the last 60 years.

Leghari had been forced to give up the keys to the building and the motorcycle and car that he used to look after the land.

Phulpoto was appointed on the recommendation of Pakistan People’s Party’s senior vice-president in Larkana, Dr Shafqat Soomro. Leghari had claimed that Dr Soomro disliked him and misguided President Zardari’s sister, Faryal Talpur, who ordered his removal.

Leghari has now been asked to come to the mazar as an ordinary visitor and he feels it is an unfair return for the service he has rendered for all Bhuttos.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2010.