WASHINGTON: Two US lawmakers have demanded an independent investigation into the murder of Sindhi nationalist leader Dr Anwar Laghari.

At a memorial service for the slain leader, Congressmen Brad Sherman and Adam Schiff said that Dr Laghari`s murder, during local bodies elections in Hyderabad, aimed at discouraging nationalist politicians from playing their role in Sindh`s politics.

In their condolence messages to the Sindhi leader`s brother Munawar Laghari, the two lawmakers urged the Pakistani government to arrest those responsible and punish them.

A memorial service for Dr Laghari was held in Washington`s Westminster Presbyterian Church. Members of Sindhi, Baloch and Punjabi diaspora and local American community on the East Coast attended the memorial service.

Congressman Sherman, his chief of staff, adviser on foreign policy and othercongressionalstaffalso attended.

Journalist and poet Hasan Mujtaba recited the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai and Shaikh Ayaz.