Condemnations follow killing of JUI-F's Khalid Soomro

All markets in Thatta, Dadu and other districts were closed as news of Soomro's murder spread.

HYDERABAD: The commercial and transport centres in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Nawabshah were shut down as supporters of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam - Fazl (JUI-F) took to the streets to condemn the killing of the party's Sindh secretary-general Khalid Mehmood Soomro on Saturday.

All markets in Tharparkar, Badin, Matiari, Thatta, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar, Sanghar and Dadu districts were closed as news of Soomro's murder spread early in the morning.

JUI-F workers also staged demonstrations and sit-ins in all the districts. They burnt tyres and blocked the road on railway station area in Hyderabad. "Enemies of Islam and Pakistan want to stir sectarian clashes," said Milli Yakjahti Council chairperson Dr Sahibzada Al Khair Muhammad Zubair. "The killing of Khalid Mehmood Soomro is part of that conspiracy." Zubair appealed to the nation to remain united and further strengthen sectarian harmony in the face of such attacks.



He said that the council has given a call to observe a day of mourning across the country.

Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party chairperson Dr Qadir Magsi condemned the attack and recalled Soomro's contribution for the cause of Sindh. Qaumi Awami Tehreek president Ayaz Latif Palijo and other nationalist leaders also expressed their sorrow over the killing.

The Shia Ulema Council also condemned the attack. The council's provincial vice-president Syed Kazim Shah Jahania said that 'imperialist' powers are conspiring to trigger sectarian clashes by killing ulema and notable people of the two sects.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2014.