Sit-ins: Crackdown on ASWJ sparks protests

Party leader gunned down in Karachi; Frontier Corps kill 2 party workers in search operation in Quetta.

QUETTA/ KARACHI:

Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) protests in Karachi on Friday intensified after the leader of its Baldia Town division was gunned down shortly after Friday prayers.

ASWJ had initially announced a sit-in outside its central office at Jamia Masjid Siddiq-e-Akbar near Nagan Chowrangi to protest against the failure of law enforcement personnel in apprehending those responsible for attacks on its leaders and workers.

Maulana Dil Faraz was gunned down in Metroville, SITE, along with his friend Abu Bakr. The two were riding on a motorcycle when unidentified armed men intercepted and shot them.

As the news of the killing spread, ASWJ’s protests intensified and activists rushed to Ghani Chowrangi in SITE where another sit-in was held. By Friday evening, the protests spread to at least 15 different parts of the city.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Sindh police spokesperson, Senior Superintendent of Police Imran Shaukat said that police officers were being vigilant in the areas where the protests were taking place. “Everyone has the right to protest. We will only take action against those people who disturb the city’s law and order or challenge the writ of the state.”



With the protests in full swing, another party worker was killed in Golimar. Deputy Superintendent of Police Rustam Khattak said two men on a motorcycle opened fire at Shoaib outside his home. Two men, Naveed and Waqas, were wounded.

However, the protests were called off late Friday evening.

Sit-in staged in Quetta

The leaders of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) called off their sit-in on Friday after successful negotiations with the Balochistan government, with the latter assuring that a case would be registered against the Frontier Corps (FC) for killing two of its members.

Despite ending its sit-in, ASWJ has called for a shutter-down strike on Saturday against the FC operation and death of its members.

At least two ASWJ activists were killed and four security personnel were injured in a search operation in Nakhail area of Nowa Killi, Quetta on Friday. Four people were also arrested in the operation.

The deceased were identified as Abdul Manan, who was dismissed from the police force a few months ago, and Mohammad Qasim, a resident of a foreign country.

Balochistan Home Secretary Akbar Durrani, Commissioner Quetta Division Qambar Dashti, Deputy Commissioner Abdul Mansoor and Capital City Police Officer Quetta Mir Zubair Mehmood held talks with the leaders of ASWJ, headed by Maulana Ramzan Mengal.

ASWJ demanded the government to register a case against FC, release of its party workers and leaders arrested by security forces and compensation for the heirs of Manan and Qasim. The sit-in was called off only after the leadership was provided with a copy of the FIR registered against FC at Zarghoonabad police station.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 23^rd, 2013.