Shikarpur tragedy: Families of blast victims end protest

Sit-in called off after successful negotiations with the Sindh government

KARACHI: Demonstrators, led by the families of slain victims of Shikarpur imambargah blast, called off their sit-in on Thursday after successful negotiations with the Sindh government.

Shia clerics went to the chief minister (CM) with a list of 22 demands, including a military operation in Shikarpur and taking action against madrassas harbouring militants. Addressing a joint press conference, Shikarpur Shuhada Committee’s Allama Maqsoob Domki and CM Qaim Ali Shah announced that the provincial government will refer the case to a military court and a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) will be formed to look into the incident.

“An operation under the supervision of an apex committee will be conducted by the police and Rangers against banned organisations,” said Shah. “Operations will also be conducted against extremist elements who run seminaries  to incite violence.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2015.