Wrong side of law: Zulfiqar Mirza booked for assault on foes, police

Situation in Badin grows tense with armed groups roaming on streets

KARACHI/ BADIN: Police on Sunday lodged three FIRs against a number of people, including Sindh’s former home minister and PPP’s estranged leader Dr Zulfiqar Mirza, after he and his supporters allegedly attacked a police station, as well as shops of some PPP supporters in Badin.

Police have arrested three persons nominated in the FIR but did not raid Mirza’s farmhouse, located 10 kilometres away from Badin city. Mirza was present at his residence along with his aides till the filing of this report.

It all started Sunday morning after the police attempted to arrest one of Mirza’s close aides, Nadeem Ahmed Mughal, who on Thursday led a political rally in support of Mirza. However, the police failed to take Mughal into custody as his supporters reached the spot and thwarted the police bid to arrest him.

According to Badin DSP Abdul Qadir Samoon, Mughal was wanted in a car theft case and an FIR was registered against him Saturday night at Kadhan police station, around 15 kilometres from Badin city.

Later, dozens of Mirza’s supporters staged a protest against the police and started shouting slogans against PPP leaders Taj Muhammad Mallah, Imtiaz Ahmed Memon, MNA Kamal Khan Chang and Dr Abdul Aziz, who, they blamed, were behind the FIR against Mughal.

Zulfiqar Mirza also joined the protesters and after a short speech, moved to the shops owned by Mallah and Memon.  According to eyewitnesses, Dr Mirza forcibly closed their shops and misbehaved with the PPP leaders, their relatives and servants present on the spot.

“He slapped my nephew and beat my servants,” alleged Mallah, adding that Mirza, flanked by armed men, threatened him with dire consequences. However, one of Mirza’s supporters denied forcing the shops shut.

Later, Mirza along with hundreds of his supporters proceeded to the police station. “He attacked the police station and threatened all the police officials,” said DSP Samoon. “The former minister damaged the furniture in the police station and broke my mobile phone,” he added.

Samoon said Mirza insisted that the police register FIRs against former president Asif Ali Zardari, his sister MNA Faryal Talpur, local PPP leaders as well as Badin SSP Khalid Mustafa Korai.

“I tried to reason with him but he was out of control,” the DSP claimed. However, Abdul Wahid Chandio, a supporter of Mirza, said the former home minister never asked to register an FIR against the PPP Co-Chairperson Zardari and his sister.

“Dr Sahib wanted to get an FIR registered against local PPP leaders but the police refused to do that and later registered three cases against him on the complaint of Mallah and Memon, which is an example of political vendetta,” he said.

Despite several attempts, Mirza could not be contacted for his version.

Situation in Badin

After the alleged attack on shops, all commercial activities in the city came to a standstill. The PPP leaders and traders demanded that district authorities arrest Dr Mirza and his aides. They said they would give a strike call for an indefinite period if their demand is not met within three days.

Armed men of both the groups were seen roaming in different parts of the city. They fired shots in the air, creating panic in the city. Locals claim the situation could get worse if not controlled in a timely manner.

Badin SP Khalid Mustafa Korai told The Express Tribune that the police is evaluating the situation and will take action in accordance with the law. “This is a high-profile case and we do not wish to aggravate the situation by hasty decisions.”

Meanwhile, a large contingent of the Sindh Police’s reserve force was called in from adjacent districts in view of the precarious situation in Badin city.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2015.