BAHAWALPUR: A large number of Seraiki activists, under the banner of the PPP, Seraiki Rights Movement and civil society, held protests in Bahawalpur and Multan against the killing of Seraiki workers in Musakhel, Balochistan.

In Bahawalpur, the activists gathered outside Bahawalpur Press Club where they held a demonstration, holding banners. PPP Bahawalpur leader Malik Imtiaz Channar and other protesters made speeches, saying it was not for the first time that Seraiki people were targeted in Balochistan and that the Seraikis were killed repeatedly in the province.

They questioned the absence of federal as well as Balochistan governments that had miserably failed to protect the people of Bahawalpur and other Seraiki areas.

In Multan, the Seraiki Democratic Party and Seraikistan National Council held a protest rally at Nawan Shahr Chowk to condemn the Musakhel incident. The demonstrators raised slogans against the incident as well as federal and Balochistan governments.

Seraiki nationalists, including Zahoor Dhareja, Rana Muhammad Faraz and others, alleged that the government was responsible for the genocide of Serakis, who were being killed for the last 20 years. The speakers also demanded formation of a separate province for the Seraiki speaking people.

ARRESTED: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested two persons allegedly involved in illegal money transfer (Hundi) business and seized foreign currency from their possession.

According to FIA officials, raids were carried out at Khanpur’s village Pir Baksh Korai and Al-Madina Printing Press, Khanpur. During the arrests the agency arrested Muhammad Arif Javed and Muhammad Asif Korai. Besides heavy amounts of foreign currencies, the FIA seized their ATM cards, mobile phone sets and other material from their possession.

A case was also registered against them.

The FIA officials alleged that the suspects were big dealers of Hundi and Saudi Riyals in big amounts were recovered from them.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2024