Protests in Sindh against murder of journalist
SUKKUR- Journalists of interior Sindh brought out protest rallies in Sukkur, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Ghotki, Khairpur and other parts of interior Sindh to condemn the murder of Shahid Soomro, a Kandhkot-based reporter of a Sindhi daily.
The Kandhkot town was shut on October 22, 2002 to mourn the killing of Soomro, who was gunned down on October 20, 2002 allegedly for writing against a candidate, contesting the October 10 elections. A large number of people visited the house of Soomro and condoled over the death.
The biggest protest rally was organised by the Sukkur Press club, headed by Shamim Shamsi, in which hundreds of journalists from all over upper Sindh participated. The protestors carried banners and placards, demanding trial of the culprits in an anti-terrorist court. The protestors marched through the main roads of the city and later staged a sit-in in front of additional inspector-general’s office.
A delegation of the journalists met the deputy inspector-general Sukkur Range, who held out an assurance that the culprits would soon be arrested and would be produced before the anti-terrorist court.
Protest demonstration was also held in Kandhkot in which a large number of businessmen and elite of the area participated. The participants staged a sit-in in front of Clock Tower and A-Section Police Station, where the deputy superintendent of police, Investigation, assured them of arresting the remaining accused within 24 hours.
The journalists of Jacobabad took out a protest rally against the murder of Shahid Soomro. The rally, President Jacobabad Union of journalists Syed Nazar Abbas Shah and attended by a large number of journalists, leader and workers of various political parties and social welfare organisations, started from the Jacobabad Press Club and ended at the DCO Chowk.
Addressing the participants, senior Journalist Shahmurad Daudpoto, Nawaz Solangi, Razzak Gharsel Mukesh Ropeta, Amir Bux Bhally strongly, condemned the murder of Soomro.
On the occasion, local leaders of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Dr Sher Muhammad Brohi and Abdul Jabbar Lashari strongly condemned gruesome incident and assured the journalists that the party would raise the issue at the assemblies.
Protest rallies were also taken out in Kashmore, Kandhkot Thul and Ghari Khairo. Journalists also demanded of the government to take steps for their protection. TPO Kandhkot Niaz Chandio said that police had been conducting raids to arrest the remaining culprits.
Strong protests were lodged in Nawabshah, Sakrand, Qazi Ahmed, Daulatpur, Bandhi and other towns of the district by the journalists against the murder of Shahid Soomro. The Nawabshah Press Clubs held a protest meetings on October 22, 2002.
Addressing the meeting, speakers demanded immediate arrest of nominated killers and trial of the accused in anti-terrorist court. Reporters demanded of the government safety of their lives and honour in discharging their duties.
The participants of the meeting also demanded of PPP office-bearers to inquire from their newly-elected assembly member as to why the incident occurred and his nephews were named in the murder. The meeting was addressed by President, Nawabshah Press Club Jamaluddin Bhatti, President Nawabshah Union of Journalists Muhammad Anwar Shaikh, Arshad Munir, Muhammad Saleh Billo, Fida Chandio and Manzoor Soomro.
Journalists of the Khairpur brought out protest rally against the murder of the journalist Shahid Soomro in Khandkot journalists wore black armbands and demanded severe punishment to the culprits.
Journalist of Larkana, protesting against the cold-blooded murder of Shahid Soomro, have demanded early arrest of the assassins, irrespective of their social status and exemplary punishment to them. They said that Sindh government should take serious notice of incidents of torture and killing against the journalists.
Source: The News
Date:10/23/2002
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