Tribal Clash: Five Mazari clansmen shot dead

Exchange of fire during protest also leaves 12 others injured.

SUKKUR:

Five Mazari clan members were killed and at least 12 others, including two policemen, were injured during a protest outside the Guddu thermal power plant on Friday.

Reportedly, people of the Mazari tribe had been protesting the death of their colleague for the past three days.  Ghulam Muhammad Mazari, a guard deployed at the office of Habib Rafique and Company – working on the upgrade of Guddu power plant – had died after suffering a brain haemorrhage three days ago. His relatives, however, alleged that the man was tortured to death.

On Friday, former Kashmore taluka nazim Haji Abdul Rauf Khoso and his brother Abdul Baki Khoso tried to negotiate with the Mazari protesters to allow the company staff inside the office. As the talks were under way, unidentified people fired at the protesters, leading to an exchange of fire with the armed tribesmen. During the clash, five Mazari clan members were killed. They were identified as Dado Ajmal Mazari, Shakil Mazari, Raees Ahmed Mazari, Ghulam Murtaza Mazari and Arsalan Mazari. Two policemen among 12 others also suffered bullet wounds in the clash. The cops were identified as Naek Muhammad Malik and Fakhuruddinn Khoso.

SSP Kashmore Umar Salamat said that the former nazim had fomented violence during the protest and opened fire at the protesters. The suspects have managed to escape but the police are carrying out raids to arrest them, he said.

Rangers have been deployed at the private company’s office and pickets set up in the vicinity of the thermal plant.

Published In The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2012.