Public hearings marred by violence and chaos

Elderly farmer assaulted during Sujawal public hearing

HYDERABAD:

A public hearing in Sujawal descended into violence on Thursday when an elderly farmer, who had come to lodge a complaint against District Council Sujawal Chairman Danish Malkani, was beaten in full view of provincial minister Shaheena Sher Ali.

Over half a dozen men, allegedly associated with Malkani, attacked Rajab Memon with punches and kicks, dragging him across the floor as he attempted to address the minister. Witnessing the chaos, the minister left the hearing without concluding the session. She later told the media that she had personally seen an elderly man being assaulted by several individuals. Despite the presence of police at the venue, officers neither intervened during the attack nor detained any of the suspects.

Memon, a resident of Daro town, had been complaining that men linked to Malkani had occupied his agricultural land and cut off irrigation water to it. He also alleged receiving threats, saying, "Danish Malkani wants to get me killed." The matter was raised in the Sindh Assembly on Friday, where opposition legislators condemned the incident and demanded legal action against those involved.

A similar disorder was reported a day earlier at a public hearing in Hyderabad chaired by provincial health minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho. Media workers faced hurdles entering the circuit house, and tensions rose inside the venue as participants voiced grievances.

Trader representative Mehmood Rajput said he was insulted and threatened — allegedly by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) workers — after he criticised the government and the city's mayor over the state of development projects. He argued that Hyderabad's infrastructure remained in decay. "Only Autobahn road is not Hyderabad," he remarked, referring to recent upgrades to a commercial thoroughfare.