Bhand community refuses to end sit-in

The sit-in protest blocking the National Highway, which connects Karachi with the upcountry, continued for third consecutive day on Monday in Nawabshah with the Bhand community decrying that the police appear reluctant to take action against the killers.

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Several political and nationalist politicians paid visits to the community camp, pitched up along the highway in Qazi Ahmed area of Nawabshah. On February 12, five men of Bhands and a police sub inspector posted on police post on a disputed agricultural land were killed allegedly in an armed assault by men from Zardari clan. The sit-in began in the evening of February 12, with the affected families demanding registration of FIR against Pakistan Peoples Party's MPA Ali Hassan Zardari, Mohsin Zardari, Abid Zardari and others.

The police, however, accepted three out of four demands of Bhand by Monday. The SSP Ameer Saud Magsi assured that the police would nominate Mohsin and Abid in the FIR, and that efforts are already been made to arrest the two who have escaped from the district.

He also assured that around 400 acres agricultural land of Bhands which has allegedly been occupied by force by Zardari Clan will be handed back to the community. The protesters, on their part, said they will not quit the protest, which has blocked the movement of inter-provincial traffic, unless both Mohsin and Abid are arrested.

Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami's Sirajul Haq contacted the Bhand community over phone to express condolence and solidarity for their protest. The president of Qomi Awami Tehreek Ayaz Latif Palijo and Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party Chairman Dr Qadir Magsi also participated in the sit-in protest. "The system is not protecting the slain persons but the killers," said Palijo. "The influential feudal lords have now resorted to killing innocent people after plundering resources of the land through corruption."

He noted that six persons including a cop were killed, 12 were injured and 18 children became orphans but the provincial government of the PPP is not budged. "The affected families have been protesting for over 48 hours along with the dead bodies which have not been buried." He urged the apex court and the parliament to take notice.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th, 2022.