Criminal negligence: Sindh govt wants judicial commission to investigate Khairpur clash

Twelve people were killed in an armed clash during polling in Waryo Wahan village

HYDERABAD/SUKKUR: The Sindh government has decided to approach the judiciary to conduct an inquiry into the armed clash in Khairpur that left 12 people dead and another 15 injured. This was announced by Sindh information minister Nisar Khuhro on Sunday. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader said that the government will soon write a letter to the chief justice of Pakistan to form a judicial commission.

Meanwhile, the Khairpur SSP has reverted and suspended Ranipur SHO over charges of criminal negligence, which led to the armed clash between supporters of the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League - Functional (PML-F) at Waryo Wahan polling station near Daraza Sharif on Saturday.

The SHO, Khalid Hussain Dahiri, was suspended for failing to provide foolproof security to candidates and voters, which sparked armed clashes in different parts of Khairpur district. Meanwhile, 24 hours after the incident, no arrest has been made, neither has a case been registered. An inquiry committee was constituted to investigate the incident, led by AIG Sanaullah Abbasi with Khairpur and Sukkur SSPs as its members.

The clash

The armed clash took place between the supporters of PPP and PML-F at Waryo Wahan polling station on Saturday. It started when Syed Ismail Shah Rashdi, who is the son of PML-F president Pir Sadaruddin Shah Rashdi, reached the polling station along with his men. At first, heated arguments started between the supporters of PPP and PML-F, which resulted in the armed clash. As a result of fierce fighting, 12 people were killed and 15 others injured. Sources in Ranipur said that the area turned into a battlefield as firing continued from both sides for more than two hours. The firing stopped when Rangers personnel took charge of the area.

Those killed in the firing were identified as Fakir Noor Hassan Waryamani, who was said to be a nephew of former adviser and PML-F MPA Fakir Waryam Khaskheli, Ali Murad Gaho, Usman Khaskheli, Murtaza Mari, Akbar Khaskheli and his son, Munawar Khaskheli, Arbab Ali, Jamshaid Mahar, Wesar Fakir, Nawab Ali, Naeem Ahmed Junejo and Gul Mohammad Junejo. The injured included Jawed Mallah, Shafqat Ali Juno, Ubhayo Laghari and Manzoor Khaskheli.

Speaking to the media at Civil Hospital, Khairpur, the injured men said that they had come to visit the polling station with Pir Syed Ismail Shah Rashdi when armed men belonging to the Junejo community opened fire on them. “But Pir Sahib was fortunate to remain unhurt,” they added.

Blaming the PPP

Meanwhile, Pir Syed Ismail Shah Rashdi held a press conference on Saturday night at Khairpur and blamed the PPP for resorting to negative practices to win the elections. “My men were targeted by the armed men of PPP, but we will not hold demonstrations or sit-ins because it is not our policy,” he said. He was hopeful that the government will dispense justice without any discrimination.

Sukkur commissioner Muhammad Abbas Baloch said that it was a very unfortunate incident. He said that investigations are underway and the media will soon be provided with the details of the inquiry. Sources told The Express Tribune that two of the deceased were buried in Waryo Wahan graveyard while the bodies of the others were taken to Sanghar for burial.

Strike

Many towns in Badin, Sanghar, Sujawal, Tharparkar and Umerkot districts observed a strike to protest the killing of 12 people in Khairpur.

Activists of PML-F also held protest rallies. In Sanghar’s Shahpur Chakar town, four of the victims of the Khaipur violence, Akbar Khaskheli, Munawar Khaskheli, Usman Khaskheli and Shoaib Mari, were laid to rest. Thousands of followers of the Hurr Jamaat and activists of the PML-F attended the funeral.

CM retaliates: ‘Playing politics on a tragic incident’

Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said that some political 'gypsy' people are trying to play politics on the Daraza Sharif incident just to keep themselves alive. "I'm really shocked over the incident and have ordered an inquiry to ascertain the reasons or motives behind it," he said.

In a statement issued from CM House on Sunday, the chief minister said that he was surprised to see the statement of Syed Ghous Ali Shah, in which he criticised the Sindh government without any reason. "Neither was Ghous Ali Shah a candidate in the local bodies' election nor had he fielded any reasonable candidate and is now making an unnecessary hue and cry," he said. He said that he had ordered an inquiry into the incident to ascertain who had brought people from Sanghar to create a law and order situation in Daraza Sharif.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2015.