Sanghar traders strike over murder of Dr Arain

Traders in Sanghar district observed a shutter-down strike on Thursday to protest the police's failure to make progress in the murder case of Dr Saleem Arain, who was gunned down on Tuesday. The family, Arain community, and local traders lamented that not only are the culprits still at large, but sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) have also not been invoked, even though a banned outfit has claimed responsibility for the killing.

Malik Imtiazul Haq, a local politician associated with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, said at a press conference that the incident was a targeted killing. Arain was shot as he was leaving his clinic for his residence near Rehmat Shah Chowk. The district headquarters hospital referred him to Peoples Medical University Hospital in Nawabshah, from where he was shifted to a private facility in Karachi, where he succumbed to his injuries. He had sustained two gunshot wounds.

"A terrorist organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack, but it is lamentable that the police have not included the relevant sections of the ATA in the FIR," Haq said. He added that the alleged terror outfit had sent a warning to Punjani settlers in Sanghar through Arain's killing.

The business community warned of further protests and shutdown strikes if the killers are not brought to justice. Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Shazia Atta Marri also condemned the killing.