Residents rally in favour of Ghotki DPO

Accuse landlords of conspiring against him.

SUKKUR: Residents of Ghotki organised a rally against local landlords and influential men, accusing them of using unfair means to suspend the district police officer.

Scores of activists of Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto) staged a sit-in at Shahi Bazaar in Mirpur Mathelo on Sunday. They shouted slogans against the landlords as they marched on the main roads of the city. Traffic came to a halt during the sit-in.

The protesters were led by Jalal Bozdar, Ilyas Malik and Fakir Rasheed, who criticised the landlords for “conspiring” against Ghotki DPO Saqib Ismail Memon.

Since he joined office, Memon has been working towards improving the law and order situation in the area, one of the representatives said. Memon had booked some landlords for patronising criminals and holding jirgas, after which they started working to remove him, an activist claimed.

The party representatives also accused the landlords of deliberately worsening the law and order situation.

They said that the ‘sardars’ earlier conspired against Ghotki DCO and succeeded in having him transferred. The protesters warned of a bigger protest if Memon is transferred.

Meanwhile, the Ghotki police have arrested two most-wanted men, Karam Mazari and Iqbal Manganhar, after encounters in different locations.

According to Memon, the police also seized a KK rifle, a pistol and a stolen motorcycle from their possession.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 27^th, 2010.