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Tuesday March 19, 2024

Situation tense as police surround Mirza farm in Badin

BADIN: The situation in Badin turned tense again on Tuesday as a strong contingent of police personnel took positions around the farmhouse of former Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza.

A large number of personnel had blocked the road leading to Mirza farm and media was kept at a distance as policemen surrounded the estranged PPP leader’s residence in his hometown.

The police

By GEO ENGLISH
May 05, 2015
BADIN: The situation in Badin turned tense again on Tuesday as a strong contingent of police personnel took positions around the farmhouse of former Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza.

A large number of personnel had blocked the road leading to Mirza farm and media was kept at a distance as policemen surrounded the estranged PPP leader’s residence in his hometown.

The police force was heavily armed and armoured personnel carriers (APC) could be seen at a distance from the farm. Police had earlier started advancing towards Mirza farm, but later retreated back to their positions.

Mirza, an estranged Pakistan People’s Party leader who has fallen out of favour with PPP-co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, said last week that he fears he may be assassinated in a ‘fake encounter’.

Speaking to Geo News today, the former minister expressed his fears again, accusing the Sindh police of wanting to assassinate him on the streets similar to the killing of Murtaza Bhutto, the eldest son of PPP founder Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

Mirza said that the SHC had granted him protective bail until May 6 and that he has the right to access the court.

I would prefer to embrace death rather than running on the streets trying to escape it, he said.

On Monday, the Sindh High Court (SHC) granted protective bail to Dr Mirza in four cases registered by Badin police on charges of terrorism, an attempt to murder, an attack on a police station and forcible shutdown of shops in Badin.

The court ordered Mirza to appear before the trial court by May 6.

Mirza’s lawyer claims that Mirza went to the Model Town police to register an FIR against police officials who allegedly tried to arrest his supporter Nadeem Mughal and snatched cash and valuables from him.

The police, however, registered four FIRs against his client and his supporters under charges of attacking a police station, an attempt to murder, issuing threats and forcing businessmen to shut their shops in the Badin district.

Mirza, who remained home minster of the province from 2008 to 2011, claims that on account of his enmity with Muttahida Quami Movement Chief Altaf Hussain and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, he has been implicated in false cases and is concerned about his safety and the security of his family.

He claims that the Sindh government has deputed SSP Rao Anwar as SSP Badin merely with intention to arrest and humiliate him and his companions in false cases.