Protests were held in different towns of district Thatta and Sujawal on Thursday against the arrest of prominent nationalist leader and Chairman of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (Arisar Group) Aslam Khairpuri by Thatta Police late Wednesday night.
Following the arrest, enraged supporters and allies of Aslam Khairpuri blocked the main Sujawal-Mirpur Bathoro road leading to the suspension of vehicular traffic for hours.
According to sources, Aslam Khairpuri was on his way back to Mirpur Bathoro after attending an event when around five police mobiles intercepted him on the main Thatta-Sujawal road. He was arrested and then shifted to an unknown place. The event was attended by the head of different nationalist parties and groups held in the village Saleh Muhammad Karnari at Karnari house.
Earlier, police reportedly tried to arrest Dr. Niaz Kalani, a senior leader of JSQM but retreated following strong resistance from his supporters and party workers who were accompanying him. Dr. Kalani alleged that state institutions and law enforcement agencies were being used to suppress them, adding that their workers and supporters had not taken the law into their hands.
A First Information Report was lodged at Thatta police station against Aslam Khairpuri and others under Sections 124-A, 147, 148 and 149 of Pakistan Penal Code 1860 and Sections 6 and 7 of Anti-Terrorism Act at Thatta Police Station.
Khairpuri’s family told local reporters on Thursday that he was not produced before any court which was a flagrant violation of the law. However, police continued to conduct raids at different places to arrest the remaining nationalists.
