Various civil society activists from across Sindh gathered before the Umerkot Press Club on Wednesday to protest the killing of blasphemy suspect Shahnawaz Kunbhar in an alleged staged encounter late week.
Led by Kunbhar’s daughter, Hareem, the protesters chanted slogans calling for peace and an end to extremism. Hareem also noted that her father was killed before anyone could even determine if he had committed blasphemy, as he was accused on the basis of content posted on a social media account that did not belong to him.
The protesters also demanded action by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, whose party is in government in Sindh. Following Kunbhar’s killing, PPP MNA Ameer Ali Shah Jeelani of Tharparkar had visited the police involved in the alleged encounter and congratulated them for their actions against “blasphemy.” The protesters said those who promoted such fanatical attitudes should not be permitted in Parliament.
Additionally, the crowd demanded a probe into local spiritual leader Umer Jan Sarhandi over his alleged role in the incident and the arrest of the police team that was involved in the allegedly staged encounter. The protesters then vowed to stage another demonstration in Karachi on Oct. 6 and urged people to attend it to raise their voices against extremism.