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IDPs’ issue being exploited in Sindh: ANP
It has been alleged that even before the military operation against Taliban militants began in Swat, the JSQM-A with the support of MQM had attacked Pakhtoons and instigated violence in the province. - AP/File photo HYDERABAD: The Awami National Party (ANP) has condemned the killing of two men in Kotri on Sunday evening. Linking the incident to the strike call given by the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (Arisar), he demanded death sentence for perpetrators of crime. Addressing a news conference at the party office here on Monday, ANP’s provincial leader Haji Asmatullah Khan Mehsud alleged that there was a conspiracy to subject Pakhtoons living in Sindh to atrocities although they had nothing to do with the Taliban. ‘Pakhtoons are the followers of Bacha Khan. They believe in peace and want to live in peace with other communities,’ Mr Mehsud said. ‘We are not supporters of the Taliban,’ he added. He said that
‘temporary’ settlement of the internally displaced persons was being
termed part of a conspiracy to convert the Sindhi people into a
minority in their province and Pakhtoons were being attacked and
their properties were being burnt. He alleged that ‘terrorists’ have been given the license to kill in Sindh. Pakhtoon students of Sindh University are getting death threats and pamphlets are being distributed against the community. He said that even before the military operation against Taliban militants began in Swat, the JSQM-A with the support of MQM had attacked Pakhtoons’ property with petrol bombs. Two people were killed in an arson attack on a shop in Larkana, he added. No party, including the ANP, wanted permanent settlement of the IDPs in Sindh, he said. ‘We acknowledge the right of sovereignty of Sindhis on Sindh and the ANP has been struggling with the Sindhis for the rights of smaller provinces,’ he said. Mr Mehsud appealed to Sindhi nationalists to unite and resolve all issues through dialogue and urged Pakhtoons to remain peaceful. CASE REGISTERED: Kotri police have registered a case under Anti-Terrorism Act against Shafi Burfat, chairman of Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz, and 40 others for the bomb explosion that killed two activists of Awami National Party (ANP) on the eve of strike call given by JSQM (Arisar group). The case is lodged under sections 6/7 Anti- Terrorism Act (ATA), 353, 324, 17, 149, 120-B (punishment for criminal conspiracy) and 109 PPC against Burfat, Zahid Hussain Shah, Shafan Oad, Sikandar Bhutto, Rafiq Bhutto, Zafar Chandio, Irfan Shah, Sattar Mangrio, Mehran Buriro, Alam Bughio, Ghani Mangrio and others. At least 26 accused have been nominated while 15 others are unidentified. The case is lodged on the complaint of in-charge police post Site, Ejaz Ahmed Soomro. Two ANP activists Khana Jan and Shahzada Khan were killed while 14 others injured in the bomb explosion that took place in Khursheed colony after ANP district Jamshoro president Haji Gulab Khan convened a meeting at his residence ahead of May 25 strike call. Shahzada Khan died on the spot while Khana Jan breathed his last on Monday . DAWN Bureau Report:Wednesday, 27 May, 2009 |
