Protesters besiege Governorâ€™s House for 10 hours against Askari Raza killing

02 January, 2012 13:01

Protesters besiege Governorâ€™s House for 10 hours against Askari Raza killing

Thousands of people besieged the Sindh Governorâ€™s House on Sunday and staged an hours-long sit-in in protest against the killing of a leader of the Pasban-i-Jafria, demanding registration of a murder case against a police official and a leader of the Ahl-i-Sunnat Wal Jamaat.

A number of people gathered first in the Federal B Area at around 2.30pm and blocked the main Shahrah-i-

Pakistan near Ancholi in protest against the killing of Askari Raza, who was shot dead in an armed attack near the NIPA traffic intersection on Saturday.

The protesters bearing the coffin of the slain leader chanted slogans against the government for its failure to protect the people.

Hundreds of protesters started moving towards the city centre and stopped at the Numaish intersection, where more people joined them.

Local leaders delivered emotional speeches and called upon the government to arrest the killers. Later, the protesters offered Maghribain prayers on M.A. Jinnah Road and after staying there for about three hours, they marched towards the Sindh Governorâ€™s House with the coffin of the slain leader.

Meanwhile, heavy deployment was made around the Governorâ€™s House and all roads leading to the palatial residence of the governor were blocked by the police by placing containers and parking water tankers. But, as the procession moved closer to the Governorâ€™s House, the police removed all barricades and allowed the protestors onto the Aiwan-i-Saddar Road, where they staged a sit-in in front of the main gate of the Governorâ€™s House.

Maulana Ali Murtaza Zaidi, Maulana Murtaza Naqvi, Maulana Nazir Naqvi, Maulana Haider Abbas, Maulana Mirza Yousaf and others spoke to the protesters.

A heavy contingent of police and senior police officers were present to tackle any untoward incident. The city administration had forced businesses and fuel stations in the proximity of the Governorâ€™s House to shut since evening.

A leader of the Pasban-i-Jafria held CID SSP Chaudhry Aslam and outlawed Sipah-e-Sahaba Aurangzeb Farooqui responsible for the killing of Mr Raza and told Dawn that the protesters wanted the government to book them in the murder case.

After some time, some leaders were called by the city administration in the Governorâ€™s House for a meeting. However, till late in the night, a six-member delegation of the Pasban-i-Jafria was holding negotiations in the Governorâ€™s House and reported to have presented their demands to Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad.

Meanwhile, SP of Gulshan Salam Shakih told Dawn that one of the occupants of the slain Mr Razaâ€™s car told the police that he also fired and wounded one of the attackers. â€œA wounded man is under detention in the Abbasi Shaheed Hospitalâ€¦.We will show him to the other party and [book him] if they identify him,â€ he added.