MIRPURKHAS, Feb 2: Scores of workers and office-bearers of the Ghosia Jamaat belonging to Mirpurkhas and Umerkot and workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) took out a joint rally on Saturday in protest against the arrest of a Ghousia Jamaat leader.

The protesters claimed that former naib taluka nazim of Umerkot Arbab Ali Samejo had been arrested in a false case by the Umerkot police at the behest of provincial minister Syed Ali Mardan Shah.

The rally was taken out from the railway station roundabout to the local press club.

Mirpurkhas Ghousia Jamaat district president Noor Mohammad Siaal, PTI leader Zubair Khan and Jaffar Dal were leading the protesters, who were demanding withdrawal of the case and release of Mr Samejo. They also staged a sit-in at the local press club.

Speaking to the protesters, Mr Siaal warned that the Ghousia Jamaat and the PTI would jointly launch a protest movement against the government for the leader’s release.

He lamented that Mr Samejo was kept in a far-away police station and the police had stopped anyone from meeting him.

He claimed that Mr Samejo was also being tortured by the police.—BoC