Members of the Nooh Potho community from Thari Mirwah, Khairpur district, staged a protest outside the Sukkur Press Club against what they described as alleged mistreatment, violence and injustice by the in-laws of their daughter. The protesters called on senior authorities to conduct an impartial investigation into the matter, ensure a transparent inquiry into the alleged case registered against their family members and provide them with justice and protection. The protest was attended by Abdul Shakoor Nooh Potho, Arif Ali Khaki, Naeem Sattar, Hafiz Ayaz Mallah, Saddam Solangi and other members of the community. The protesters were carrying placards and appealed to the relevant authorities to take notice of what they described as injustice and mistreatment. Speaking to the media, Abdul Shakoor Nooh Potho and other protesters said that their sister, Ms Zakiya, daughter of Shafi Muhammad Nooh Potho, had left her home some time ago and married Adnan, son of Imamuddin Soomro, through a court marriage according to her own choice. They said that around 11 months after the marriage, Zakiya contacted her mother and allegedly told her that she was facing difficulties at her in-laws’ home and wanted her family to take her back. According to the protesters, after receiving the call, Zakiya’s father, Shafi Muhammad Nooh Potho, met his son-in-law Adnan, son of Imamuddin Soomro, and the matter was allegedly settled peacefully at that time. However, the protesters claimed that when Shafi Muhammad later arrived to take his daughter Zakiya home, Imamuddin Soomro and some other individuals allegedly attacked him. They said that Shafi Muhammad suffered serious injuries as a result of the alleged assault. Abdul Shakoor Nooh Potho further alleged that Wadera Zulfiqar Soomro had allegedly played a role in the incident and later had a case registered against Shafi Muhammad and other family members. The protesters described the case as baseless and said that its registration had made the situation more complicated. According to their claim, Shafi Muhammad, Abdul Naeem, Ms Imtiaz, Abdul Ghafoor, Naeem and several other people were named in the case. The protesters said they did not want to take the law into their own hands and instead wanted to seek justice through legal and constitutional means. They called on the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Sindh Chief Minister, Inspector General of Sindh Police, DIG Sukkur, SSP Khairpur and other relevant authorities to take immediate notice of the matter. They demanded a complete and impartial investigation so that the facts of the incident could be established. They also asked authorities to hear the positions of all parties involved before taking any decision. The protesters said that if any individual had violated the law, that person should be dealt with according to the law, regardless of their position or influence. They stressed that their main demand was justice and a fair investigation into the allegations made by both sides. The protesters also expressed concerns about the safety of their family members and requested protection against any alleged threats or possible untoward incident. They appealed to the authorities to ensure that they and their families were provided with adequate security while the matter was being investigated. The community members said that they wanted the relevant institutions to investigate the matter on merit and bring the actual facts before the public. They maintained that their family had chosen the legal route and expected the authorities to ensure that justice was provided without discrimination. The protest outside the Sukkur Press Club was aimed at drawing the attention of senior government and police officials toward their concerns. The protesters used placards and raised their demands before the media, hoping that the authorities would intervene and resolve the dispute. They said that an impartial investigation was necessary to determine what had actually happened and to establish responsibility for any wrongdoing. The protesters also emphasized that the matter involved a family dispute that had allegedly developed into violence and a legal case. They wanted the authorities to examine the circumstances surrounding the marriage, the subsequent complaints made by Zakiya, the alleged assault on her father and the case registered against members of their family. They said that all aspects of the matter should be investigated rather than relying on the claims of only one side. The protesters appealed to the police and administration to ensure transparency throughout the investigation. They also called for protection for their family so that the dispute would not lead to further conflict. According to them, the best way to resolve the matter was through legal proceedings and an impartial inquiry. At the conclusion of the protest, the Nooh Potho community members once again appealed to senior authorities to take immediate notice of their complaints and provide them with relief. They requested that all allegations be investigated fairly, the statements of all parties be recorded and anyone found responsible for violating the law be dealt with according to legal procedures. The protesters said they would continue to pursue their case through lawful means and hoped that the relevant authorities would respond to their demands. The allegations made during the protest could not independently be verified, and the claims represent the position of the protesting family. The protesters’ demand remains that the matter should be investigated impartially and that justice and protection should be provided to all affected parties according to law.
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