BADIN: The situation in Badin turned tense again on Tuesday as a strong contingent of police personnel took positions around the farmhouse of former Sindh Home Minister Zulfiqar Mirza.
A large number of personnel had blocked the road leading to Mirza farm and media was kept at a distance as policemen surrounded the estranged PPP leader’s residence in his hometown.
The police force was heavily armed and armoured personnel carriers (APC) could be seen at a distance from the farm. Police had earlier started advancing towards Mirza farm, but later retreated back to their positions.
On Monday, the Sindh High Court (SHC) granted protective bail to Dr Mirza in four cases pertaining to charges of terrorism, an attempt to murder, an attack on a police station and forcible shutdown of shops in Badin. The court ordered Mirza to appear before the trial court by May 6.
Mirza, an estranged Pakistan People’s Party leader who has fallen out of favour with Asif Ali Zardari, the co-chairman of the party, had approached the high court for obtaining protective bail in four cases registered against him and others by the Badin police.
His lawyer claims that Mirza went to the Model Town police to register an FIR against police officials who allegedly tried to arrest his supporter Nadeem Mughal and snatched cash and valuables from him.
The police, however, registered four FIRs against his client and his supporters under charges of attacking a police station, an attempt to murder, issuing threats and forcing businessmen to shut their shops in the Badin district.
Mirza, who remained home minister of the province from 2008 to 2011, claims that on account of his enmity with Muttahida Quami Movement Chief Altaf Hussain and PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, he has been implicated in false cases and is concerned about his safety and the security of his family.
Last week, the former minister had expressed his fear that he may be assassinated in a ‘fake encounter’.
He claims that the Sindh government has deputed SSP Rao Anwar as SSP Badin merely with intention to arrest and humiliate him and his companions in false cases.
INP/AJ
