LARKANA: Hectic efforts were under way on Saturday night and Sunday to persuade former home minister Sohail Anwar Siyal to withdraw the attempted murder and terror case lodged against former MPA Moazzim Abbasi, his son, Waleed, and several other suspects after an alleged incident of firing outside the ex-minister’s residence.

The FIR was lodged at the Dari police station of Larkana district through Syed Zulfiqar Ali, the caretaker of the residence, Siyal House.

In his FIR, the complainant had claimed that Moazzim Abbasi’s son, Waleed, and some other suspects riding a double-cabin vehicle struck at the Siyal House at around midnight between December 30 & 31 and asked for Advocate Zaffar Anwar Siyal.

He quoted Waleed and his companions as saying that they were sent to kill Advocate Zaffar Siyal. The complainant alleged that when they were told that Advocate Zaffar was not present inside, they resorted to heavy firing into the air causing panic and fear. “We had to rush back into the house to save our lives; they sped away by continuing the aerial firing,” the complainant claimed.

As soon as the FIR was lodged, Moazzim Abbasi met the Larkana SSP requesting him to stop the Dari police from registering the FIR.

He also started efforts in this direction by meeting opposition leaders including Maulana Rashid Mahmood Soomro of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, besides speaking to Sardar Abdul Rahim of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional. They and other opposition leaders including Syed Zain Shah of the Sindh United Party condemned registration of the FIR and demanded its withdrawal. They also asked PPP to refrain from political victimisation of its opponents.

On Sunday, Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) leaders — former federal minister Murtaza Jatoi, former Sindh chief minister Liaquat Jatoi and Mir Abid Khan Jatoi -- visited Kot Dorab in Waleed town of Larkana. Dr Safdar Abbasi, Moazzim Abbasi and Barrister Kazim received them at Kot Dorab.

The visiting leaders also condemned registration of the “fake FIR” and described the move as a conspiracy against political opponents on the part of PPP. They asked PPP to stop political victimisation.

PPP MPA and chieftain of his tribe Sardar Khan Chandio had a meeting with Sohail Siyal on late Saturday night to help sort out the issue as, according to sources, Sardar Chandio maintains friendly relations with the Siyal and Abbasi families. “I am optimistic that the matter would be resolved amicably but it would take time,” he said after the meeting.

Maulana Soomro and other political figures were also continuing their efforts to persuade Siyal to withdraw the FIR.

Sources said that Siyal sought time to consult his other friends before taking any decision.

It was learnt that one of the nominated suspects, Abdul Ahad Magsi, was arrested on Sunday.

Published in Dawn, January 6th, 2025