In protest: JSQM chairman sent to jail, party calls off strike over floods

Qureshi was arrested by the government to divert attention from its negligence in flood response, claim party.

KARACHI:

Sindhi nationalist figure Bashir Qureshi was sent to Landhi jail on Friday, where he will stay while the police verify his weapons licences.

Qureshi was arrested a day earlier on suspicion of illegal possession, amid outrage from his party, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz. “I have licences for more than 10 weapons,” he told the media at the Malir district court, where he was showered with rose petals by supporters. “I ask the police and law enforcement agencies, why don’t they conduct an operation in Lalukhet and Sherpao Basti where there are a large number of automatic weapons and terrorists.”

The high-profile arrest comes at a time when the law enforcement agencies are trying to clean up Karachi regardless of political affiliation. Hundreds of people were tortured to death or killed in drive-by shootings in one of the city’s bloodiest summers. A helpless police force had complained to the Supreme Court that their hands were tied when it came to taking action against criminals as they were protected by political elements. The court wanted reports for how many arms licences were issued in the last two years. The numbers, albeit disputed, ran into the thousands.

Qureshi’s security guard Badruddin was also sent to prison with him for 14 days.

Malir Judicial Magistrate Abdul Qayyum Siddiqui said that the recovery of illegal weapons was out of the court’s jurisdiction and should be tried by the Supreme Court.

The court asked the police to verify the licences produced by the accused and bring the two men to court for the next hearing.

Qureshi and Badruddin were booked under section 13D and 13E of the Arms Ordinance as they were found in possession of weapons without a licence. The police claim to have recovered a large quantity of weapons in a raid at a house in Gulshan-e-Hadeed.

While Qureshi was sent on remand, the magistrate released a man who was arrested with him. He was identified as Sheeraz Ahmed Subhani, the son of DSP Ghulam Subhani. Sheeraz managed to produce a licence for his weapon.

Nearly 100 lawyers of the Malir Bar Association signed the wakalat nama (legal power of attorney) for the JSQM leader. Four lawyers, including Saleem Memon, Muhammad Khan Shaikh and Amanullah Yousafzai, argued Qureshi’s case. Qureshi maintains that the Rangers had arrested him deliberately in order to make the ongoing operation controversial. He added that he has been attacked twice. “The state can not protect us, therefore I have weapons to protect myself,” he said.

Amid these developments, tension gripped Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Sacchal Goth, Memon Goth, Ibrahim Hyderi and Chakra Goth and other Sindhi-dominated areas of the city where there was a complete strike on Friday.

Shops and markets remained closed. People blocked main roads, burnt tyres and fired shots in the air in a display of anger. A complete shutter-down strike was observed in Kandhkot, Kashmore, Tangwani and Ghauspur. JSQM activists marched through towns and burnt tyres in protest.

Initially, JSQM had decided to organise a three-day strike and were supported by other Sindhi nationalist parties. However, on Friday they called it off but decided to continue with organising the protests and rallies for two days. While talking to The Express Tribune, JSQM vice chairman Niaz Kalani said that they had decided to call off the strike because of the relief work. “Bashir Qureshi was arrested by the government to divert attention from its negligence in flood-affected areas,” Kalani said. “The government has failed to provide relief to the people and has started arresting those people who say things against its policies.”

(With additional information from PPI)

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th,  2011.