'Killing' of JSQM leader sparks protest in Sindh
- By Azhar Khan -
- Mar 21, 2014
HYDERABAD: A leader of Jiye Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) Maqsood Qureshi was found dead in mysterious circumstances in a car, triggering tension in interior Sindh and Hyderabad, ARY News reported Friday.
A burnt car was spotted along Bhiria Road, Naushero Feroz, with two bodies in it. Police said one of the bodies was identified as Maqsood Qureshi and while the other one was his companion, Salman.
As soon news of Qureshi’s death spiraled, law and order situation in various districts of interior Sindh began to deteriorate and armed men took to the streets and resorted to aerial firing, forcing closure of business activities.
Incensed elements set on fire five vehicles near National Highway and pelted passing vehicles with stones. Protesters also carried a body of Qureshi and placed it at the road during protest.
Trade activities also came to a halt in Hyderabad, Larkana, Ratodero, Qambar Shahdatkot and other small districts of the province, following killing of the JSQM leader. Three persons were also injured in firing by unknown armed men near Sakrand Road, Nawabshah. Similar cases of aerial firing are also reported from other districts.
Papers scheduled in Mehran University and Sindh University for tommorow (March 22) have been postponed.
Maqsood Qureshi was going to Karachi to mobilize party workers in connection to their ‘Freedom March’ rally on March 23 in the province.
Vice chairman JSQM Dr. Niaz Kalani said the killing of Qureshi was a plot to fail their ‘Freedom March’.
Meanwhile, JSQM has called its emergency meeting in Bhiria city at 4pm.
Maqsood was a brother of late JSQM chief Bashir Qureshi who died in Sakrand, Nawabshah in 2012.
Initial reports suggested that Qureshi was on his way to attend a ceremony in Khairpur when, on reaching Shaheed Benazirabad district, he felt chest pain and was rushed to a private hospital. The cause was his death was reported to be cardiac arrest.
Later medical reports claimed that Bashir died of poisoning and not natural causes.