LARKANA: Over 30 activists of the Awami Workers Party-Marxist (AWP-M) were booked on Tuesday in a sedition case for allegedly raising anti-state slogans, inciting rebellion and blocking road in Larkana during a march held a couple of days back.
The ‘Save Sindh Awami March’ was led by the party’s Secretary General Comrade Bakhshal Thalho.
The FIR was registered against him and his 10 associates, as well as more than 20 participants of the march. The nominated suspects, besides Comrade Thalho, are Saddam Hussain Jatoi, Singar Nonari, Zain Shah, Imdad Ali Chinjni, Sajjad Ali Gadhi, Aakash Nonari, Farhan Tagar, Mohammad Saleem Magsi, Javed Qasmani and Ali Raza Shahani.
The FIR (No. 2026/136) was lodged by ASI Nazir Hussain Sargani on behalf of the state at the Market police station under Sections 123-A, 124-A, 147, 149, 341 and 353 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) after Sunday’s march against a plan to divide Sindh, inflation, lawlessness and, what the party claims, ‘plundering of rivers.
The complainant alleged that the leaders and participants of the march raised slogans against the state and its institutions, incited rebellion and obstructed police from performing their lawful duty. He also alleged that they blocked Jinnah Bagh Chowk and a road, used abusive language against national institutions and blocked movement of the public, creating disorder.
The complainant stated that the protesters were carrying sticks and flags in their hands.
When police asked them to inform authorities about their protest, clear the road and stop sloganeering, they disobeyed the instructions and scuffled with police officers and then fled into narrow lanes, he added.
On Sunday, police had detained more than 45 men and women while dispersing the march participants.
They were shifted to different police stations of Larkana.
The women detainees were let off a little later and the male activists were held in custody for about three hours before they were also freed.