Shia Ulema Council expresses concern over arrest in Tando Adam murder case

Sanghar (Hasnain Ashiq Saand) The Shia Ulema Council (SUC), Sanghar district, has expressed serious concern over the arrest of its Vice President, Dr Abid Rasool Hashmi, in connection with the murder of Lahore-based taxi driver Fayyaz Masih, and has called for a transparent and impartial investigation into the case.

Speaking at a press conference at the Tando Adam Press Club, SUC leaders  including political wing district head Akbar Hussain Chughtai, district general secretary Irfan Ali Liskani, information secretary Irshad Ali Rind, senior vice-president Hussain Abbas Chughtai, Syed Ghulam Mehdi Shah, Noor Muhammad Malokhani and Ghous Bakhsh Dero said that the arrest made by an investigation team from Lahore in connection with the two-month-old case had raised concerns.

They said the organisation shared the grief of the Christian community over the killing of Fayyaz Masih, adding that “the killing of one person is akin to the killing of entire humanity.”

The leaders demanded that all aspects of the case be thoroughly investigated and that individuals who had travelled in the taxi to Tando Adam also be included in the probe.

They maintained that Dr Hashmi was a respectable figure with a record of social, religious and welfare services, and had previously served twice as president of the SUC Tando Adam chapter. They alleged that he had been arrested on baseless grounds and called for a fair inquiry to establish the facts.

Appealing to higher authorities, the SUC leaders urged that the real culprits be identified and brought to justice so that the victim’s family could receive due justice.

They reiterated that the council had always raised its voice against injustice and stood by the oppressed, and called for ensuring justice in the present case.

Among others present on the occasion were Imran Karbalai and Zulfiqar Khoso.