KARACHI, June 22 2006: Sindh Home Minister Rauf Siddiqi told the Sindh Assembly on June 21 that whosoever involved in the killing of a TV staffer Munir Sangi, will have to pay the price and his first interest is to bring the culprits to justice. In a statement on the floor of the House, Home Minister Rauf elucidated the steps taken for inquiry into the killing of Munir Sangi including a judicial inquiry through District and Sessions Judge Larkana and a request made to Chief Justice of Sindh High Court for upgradation of the level of inquiry to be conducted through a Judge of the High Court.

He informed the House that Munir Sangi was killed in an armed feud between two tribes in Larkana and one version was that he died in a cross-fire and the other was that he was targeted. He said he ordered judicial inquiry following confusion arising as a result of two versions regarding the matter. As regards the attack on the office of Sindh TV in Jacobabad, the minister said that the TV management had given him a letter in this regard on which he has issued order of inquiry. Regarding disappearance of a Larkana journalist, Mukesh Rupeta, the home minister informed the House that the administration itself is trying to locate his whereabouts. He said he is unaware of his whereabouts and as soon as something comes to his knowledge, he will inform the House as well journalists accordingly. But, he made it clear, Mukesh was not with any of the Sindh Government agencies.

Later, the home minister had another meeting with the journalists who boycotted the Assembly proceedings for the third consecutive day and assured to relaunch inquiry into the release of Mulla Madad Unnar, an accused nominated in the FIR regarding murder of Munir Sangi, by the Investigation Officer. The journalists gave the names of two senior police officers Ghulam Nabi Memon and Sanaullah Abbasi for the purpose of inquiry. The home minister assured that FIR will be registered in respect of attack on the office of Sindh TV and also against attack on a Jacobabad journalist Mubarak Bhatto.

He told journalists that he has no objection if a fact-finding committee comprising parliamentarians and journalists is also constituted. On his assurances, the Sindh Assembly’s Press Committee announced the end of boycott of the session. Later Leader of the Opposition Nisar Ahmed Khuhro also met journalists and said that the matter regarding constitution of fact-finding committee will be taken up today (June 22).
Source: The News
Date:6/22/2006