Man injured in alleged police firing at MWM sit-in dies at hospital

Ali Raza Rizvi, who was injured due to alleged police firing at a sit-in staged by the Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) in Malir 15 on Wednesday, succumbed to his injuries at a hospital on Saturday.

The MWM has claimed that so far, two young men have lost their lives as a result of state action during its recent protests in Karachi over the Parachinar crisis.

The party claims that it had opted for peaceful sit-ins to highlight the plight of the people of Parachinar but the state resorted to violent action and as police and Rangers opened fire on its protesters, two young men were killed, while dozens of others, including women and children, were injured as a result of firing and baton-charge.

"We will file cases against the Sindh government for the murders of Shabih Haider Zaidi and Ali Raza Rizvi and for the violence and brutality inflicted on peaceful protesters. If justice is not served, we will approach the International Court of Justice," said MWM leader Allama Hassan Zafar Naqvi.

According to a spokesperson for the MWM, Rizvi breathed his last while receiving treatment at a private hospital. His funeral prayers were led by Allama Shabbir Hassan Maisami on the National Highway at Malir 15.

Rizvi, who has left behind his widow and two children, was laid to rest at the Wadi-e-Hussain Cemetery in the presence of hundreds of mourners, including Shia scholars and Zakireen. Emotional scenes were witnessed during his last rites in which some participants also chanted slogans against the Sindh government.

MWM leaders Naqvi, Baqar Abbas Zaidi and Mukhtar Imami have expressed condolences with Rizvi’s family. They said Rizvi sacrificed his life in solidarity with the oppressed people of Parachinar while he was participating in a peaceful sit-in.

They said the Sindh government and Pakistan Peoples Party's brutality would forever be remembered.

In his address during Rizvi’s funeral, Naqvi announced that a case would be filed against the murderers of Haider and Rizvi. He lamented that peaceful sit-ins held to express solidarity with the people of Parachinar were met with oppression and violence by the police and Rangers, leading to multiple injuries among protesters.

Baqar Abbas stated that protesting was their constitutional and legal right, and the brutality displayed by the authorities would be challenged. He announced that they would take their case against the state oppression to the high court and Supreme Court and if justice was not served, they would approach the International Court of Justice.

Meanwhile, Saudabad SHO Zameer Ahmed told The News that Rizvi was not part of the protest sit-in but was injured at a different location before being brought to the hospital. The SHO dismissed the MWM's allegations of police firing, stating, "If the police did not fire any shots, how could there be any injuries or fatalities?"

He clarified that the police only used tear gas shells to disperse the protesters. He added that an investigation was under way, and everything would become clear once it was complete.

The MWM held sit-ins for nine days in Karachi to express solidarity with the people of Parachinar and Kurram Agency. The sit-ins, which were held on many major roads of Karachi, severely disrupted the traffic flow and caused inconvenience to public. On Tuesday, clashes broke out between the protesters and police as the latter attempted to end the demonstrations.

Both sides sustained injuries in the clash. The MWM claimed their protesters were injured in the police action, with one protester dying earlier in the week and another succumbing to injuries on Saturday.

Police have registered three cases against MWM leadership and protesters on the charges of blocking roads, attacking police personnel, damaging public and government property, and other offenses. Sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) have also been included in the FIRs. In connection with these cases, police have arrested 19 individuals, including prominent Shia leader Asghar Hussain Shaheedi.