Sindh University Students Who Held Rallies On Cultural Day Booked For Sedition

Jamshoro police have lodged a sedition case against 21 students of Sindh University for reportedly chanting 'anti-state' slogans in an event marking the Sindh Cultural Day, held on November 18.

The case was registered against at least 21 students of the university, under sections 123-A, 124-A, 153-A, 505, 19, 147, 145 and 203 of the Pakistan Penal Code beholding crime No. 305/21 on the complaint of Sub-Inspector Ghulam Hussain Kalro.

The booked individuals include Irfan Soomro, Wasim Chandio, Waqar Panhwar, Akash Lakho, Abid Jamali, Arsalan Arisar, Darya Khan Panhwar, Danish Leghari, Jamshed Unnar, Fida Hussain Panhwar, Hafeez Umrani, Janib Wassan, Imtiaz Ali Pahore, Jaswand Meghwar, Azeem Jatoi, Muzamil Abbasi, Mansoor Kalwar, Sajjad Ali Panhwar, Rashid Ali Zardari, Waqar Ali Panhwar, and Sarmad Hussain Chandio.

The complainant said that the suspects raised slogans against Pakistan and the government, prompted by banned outfit Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) leader Shafi Burfat. Students from various political and nationalist groups gathered to celebrate the Sindh Cultural Day at Zero Point.

The Jamshoro SHO claimed that the FIR was lodged after a delay of 16 days as the police were in the process to identify and verify the names of students involved in the 'anti-Pakistan' gathering. Meanwhile, SU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Siddique Kalhoro also decided to issue notices, dated November 27th, to the students involved in the erroneous activities, after an inquiry.

According to the university spokesperson, the students violated the guidelines issued in the Registrar Office [vide] Circular No. S.U.G/623, dated: 12.11.2021 and created an intense law and order situation by taking out rallies and raising slogans 'against the country' in the vicinity of SU.