Umerkot remains tense as protests persist.
The city, which experienced the purported custodial murder of a blasphemy-accused physician and the subsequent defilement of his remains by a mob last year, is currently grappling with intra-sectarian conflict, with numerous blasphemy FIRs filed at various police stations.
A hazardous situation is developing in Umerkot district, where religious and politico-religious factions have been demonstrating for several days to compel the police to act.
The demonstrators, who conducted a sit-in at American Chowk, called for action against an individual accused of disseminating sacrilegious material on social media. The district’s SSP Uzair Ahmed Memon engaged in discussions with the protesters, which proved inconclusive. The police stated that they required time to examine the controversial matter before proceeding.
Despite the registration of at least four FIRs, the police have seemingly avoided effectuating arrests.
On Wednesday, the SSP convened a meeting at his office with representatives from various religious and politico-religious parties to discuss the current situation and formulate recommendations that prohibited all sectarian groups from exhibiting disrespect towards each other’s beliefs or making critical statements.
It was also proposed that if an individual independently affronts the convictions of other groups, no sectarian faction will extend their support.
The SSP stated that individuals offended by objectionable content on social media should refrain from blocking roads or highways in protest, as well as from attempting to file FIRs.
He stated that the suitable venue for lodging such complaints is the Cyber Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Simultaneously, Iqbal Ahmed Detho, Chairman of the Sindh Human Rights Commission, addressed a letter to the SSP of Umerkot, urging the immediate activation of district peace and interfaith harmony committees to prevent and promptly resolve conflicts.
“Given the repetitive occurrence of such incidents in Umerkot, the commission reiterates the necessity for proactive and community-oriented measures to prevent escalation.” He emphasised that blasphemy laws should not be exploited to persecute individuals.
Dr. Shahnawaz Kumbhar, accused of blasphemy and hailing from the same district, was fatally shot in a fabricated police encounter on September 19, 2024, in Mirpurkhas after surrendering to the police in Karachi. He was additionally nominated in a blasphemy FIR in Umerkot. The mob subsequently seized his deceased body from an ambulance in a village in Umerkot and incinerated it.
The ensuing investigation resulted in the dismissal of DIG Mirpurkhas Javed Sonharo Jiskani, SSP Mirpurkhas Muhammad Asad Chaudhry, SSP Umerkot Asif Raza Baloch, and additional officers. All individuals, including a local religious leader alleged to have incited the mob, were charged in a FIR filed based on the complaint of Dr. Kumbhar’s brother-in-law.
