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Thursday March 28, 2024

Govt reaches 20-point agreement with Shikarpur protesters

Karachi Claiming to have succeeded in negotiating with the martyrs’ committee for ending the Shia community’s sit-in in Karachi, the Sindh government announced on Thursday that it would recommend to the federal government for conducting the trial of Shikarpur Imambargah case in military courts.The announcement was made by chief minister

By Azeem Samar
February 20, 2015
Karachi
Claiming to have succeeded in negotiating with the martyrs’ committee for ending the Shia community’s sit-in in Karachi, the Sindh government announced on Thursday that it would recommend to the federal government for conducting the trial of Shikarpur Imambargah case in military courts.
The announcement was made by chief minister Qaim Ali Shah at a press conference held at the CM House as the chairman of Shikarpur Shuhuda Committee, Allama Masood Ali Domki, declared on behalf of the protesters to end their sit-in at Numaish Chowrangi which had begun on Tuesday night.
At the press conference, Sindh information minister Sharjeel Inam Memon read out some 20 points of the agreement between the provincial government and Shikarpur heirs after a marathon session of negotiations.
Under the agreement, the Sindh apex committee being set up under supervision of the chief minister to monitor implementation of National Action Plan against terrorism, would also oversee a crackdown carried against militants in Shikarpur along with rest of the province.
The operation will be carried out by Sindh Rangers and police against all elements, centres, and seminaries rendering assistance to terrorists working in Sindh.
The apex committee will also supervise a special operation by the law-enforcement agencies — including the removal of graffiti, posters, and flags by banned outfits — against sectarian elements which spread violence and hatred in the society.
The operation would also be launched against foreigners, including Afghans, Uzbeks and Tajiks, who have been residing in the province and are allegedly involved in terrorism. It was said that the settlers with proper documentation will be asked to register themselves with the local police.
Moreover, a joint investigation team — comprising representatives of relevant law-enforcement and intelligence officials — will also be set up to probe the Shikarpur tragedy and findings of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report will be shared with the martyrs’ committee.
It was also said that similar JITs will be created for previous incidents of terrorism against the Shia community in the province.
The Sindh government also conceded to the demand of granting arms’ licenses to ensure the security of mosques, Imambargah and religious scholars.
Another point of agreement was that the provincial government will provide a job to one person from each bereaved family of Shikarpur tragedy while the victims rendered physically-disabled will also be provided jobs under the five percent quota.
The Sindh government will also name a roundabout in Shikarpur district after the martyrs of Karbala Mohalla and will also increase the amount of compensation for heirs of the deceased victims of terrorism and target killing across the province.
Earlier, speaking at the press conference, the chief minister while relating in detail all the efforts taken by the government for the rescue and support of Shikarpur suicide attack, said the terrorists had chosen the time of Friday prayers to strike at the main Imambargah of Shikarpur district to ensure maximum loss of human lives.
He said the Sindh government used to Rs500,000 million as compensation to heirs of deceased victims of terrorist attacks, except for the Abbas Town bomb blast of March, 2013, when the amount was slightly increased. However, he said, this would be the first time the provincial government would increase the compensation amount to Rs2 million for each of the bereaved family.
On the occasion, the chief minister also revealed that he had met real estate tycoon Malik Riaz and he had promised to grant Rs1 million for each of the bereaved family and Rs500,000 for each person injured in the Shikarpur attack.
Talking about the long march, he said the government had already decided to agree with most of the demands of Shikarpur martyrs before they had decided to begin their march to Karachi and hold a final round of negotiations.
The chairman of Shirkarpur Shuhuda Committee, Allama Masood Ali Domki, said the protest was not aimed to malign the democratic government but to raise a voice against the menacing situation of terrorism.
He said the marchers had been received warmly by residents of different towns and cities. He said the support had been tantamount to holding a referendum to gauge peoples’ attitudes towards terrorism.
He said the people of Sindh with their zealous welcome of the marchers had proved that they did not belief in sectarianism and they stood against terrorists.
Allama Domki said the martyrs’ committee protest had not been in support of a single sectarian community but against all victims and people affected by terrorism.
He said the 14-member committee acknowledged and appreciated the steps taken by the Sindh government against terrorism and hoped that the agreement will be followed through.
At the end of the press conference, information minister Sharjeel Memon said that as per the recommendations of martyrs’ committee, the provincial government will write to the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority to take punitive action against a private television channel for spreading hatred and propaganda on sectarian lines.