KARACHI: No roads in Karachi should be closed, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah told police on Friday, a day after violent protests in Sohrab Goth in the aftermath of the murder of 27-year-old youth Bilal Kaka in Hyderabad earlier this week.

“If miscreants try to block any street, they should be dealt with severely,” Shah instructed the provincial police. He dispelled rumours that roads would be closed in the city.

The directives came after some communities and groups in messages forwarded on social media announced their decision to block roads in Banaras, Malir, Super Highway, Kemari, Quaidabad, Hub Road, Hawksbay Road, and Shershah. The veracity of the messages could not be verified by Aaj News.

All major exits and entries point of the city will be blocked, they had announced.

“The government has spoken to all parties concerned in the issue,” he said. “They have said they are not involved in any such activity.”

The provincial chief minister has directed police and the district administration to ensure normalcy in the city.

Role of nationalist parties

The Sindh government on Friday highlighted the “important role” that the nationalist parties could play in the wake of developments that took place after the murder of Bilal Kaka.

“People should be aware of elements creating chaos,” Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said in a press conference on the prevailing situation in the city. “We need firefighters in this country, not arsonists.”

The presser came as a heavy contingent of police was deployed in Karachi’s the Sohrab Goth area where rogue elements blocked roads and torched vehicles on Thursday. The mob robbed people of their valuables.

Memon, while responding to a query, accused the PTI of fomenting chaos. He showed a picture of a person on his mobile and claimed that the person was linked to the former ruling party. “We have to look at the incident from every angle as it’s a very sensitive matter.”

He reiterated that the violent incident should not be given an ethnic colour, adding that facts would be made public after a transparent inquiry.

“We will not spare those who disturb peace and harmony,” he said and warned people of fake information on social media.

Memon praised the media reporting on the issue.

PPP leader Syed Agha Rafiullah, who is a Pashtun, stressed the need to bridge gaps through politics instead of inciting hate. “It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure peace.”

The Sindh information minister demanded of the Federal Investigation Agency to arrest people spreading incendiary messages on social media. “The Sindh government will not sit idle.”

He was of the view that the PTI should be immediately banned in the wake of the incident and the Supreme Court ruling.

The Supreme Court on June 14 issued a detailed judgement explaining the reasons behind its decision to set aside a controversial ruling by the National Assembly speaker on April 3 that dismissed the no-confidence motion against the then prime minister Imran Khan.

HRCP calls for ending ethnic tensions

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called for an end to ethnic tensions in Sindh in the wake of Bilal Kaka’s murder.

In a statement on Friday, the HRCP emphasised that the murder should be investigated “fairly and transparently” and urged the Sindh government to take steps to control the crime and violence in the province. The organization called upon the progressive voices of the city to fight back against racist rhetoric.

It also said that it would conduct a fact-finding mission to ascertain details surrounding the Bilal Kaka murder and the ensuing ethnic tension.

Commuters at the receiving end of Sohrab Goth protests

Many commuters were robbed of valuables and several cars were torched as unidentified people blocked the superhighway at Al-Asif Square in Sohrab Goth for almost five hours on Thursday in the wake of the murder of 27-year-old Bilal Kaka.

“More than 25 people have been arrested,” the police spokesperson said. “There is no truth to reports of abduction, deaths, and the situation worsening.”

The protest started at 3pm at Sohrab Goth, police said. Incidents of firing and arson occurred during the protest. A heavy contingent of police was called in to deal with the situation. Authorities had also asked rangers to control the situation.

The incident came three days after 27-year-old Bilal was killed in a clash with a restaurant’s management in Hyderabad while out for dinner with friends. There were reports that armed groups forced Pashtun owners to close their restaurants and tea shops. Police have arrested at least one man in connection with the murder.

Later, it emerged that as many as 12 first information reports were registered against Bilal at different police stations in Hyderabad.

Videos of burnt tyres, buses, and people harassing a family at the superhighway went viral on social media.

The superhighway road was opened for traffic at 8pm on Thursday.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said that no one would be allowed to take the law into their hands. “This is not a time to compete but to take care of each other, this is a conspiracy, this conspiracy should not be allowed to succeed,” he said in a statement.

The Sindh CM has sought a report over incidents in Karachi and Hyderabad following the killing of Bilal Kaka, adding that the incident would be viewed as a crime scene, not on linguistic grounds.

Strict action would be taken against people who would disturb the law and order situation, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said in a handout.

He contacted ANP leader Shahi Syed and National Awami Tehreek’s Ayaz Lateef Palejo. Memon urged them to play a positive role in maintaining peace and brotherhood.