More than half of male population of Khairpur in Sindh booked as rioters

Pakistan Telegraph (ANI) Friday 4th January, 2008

Karachi, Jan 4 : More than 125,000 people across the Khairpur district of Sindh province in Pakistan have been booked for rioting after the tragic death of former premier Benazir Bhutto on December 27.

The figure of the registered cases of rioting at 10 police sub-divisions of the Khairpur district exceeded 125,000 rioters, the majority of whom belonged to the Pakistan People's Party.

However, no case of rioting was registered in three police sub-divisions of Pir Jo Goth, KT Pir Pagara and Naro, The News reported.

The police are carrying out raids for arresting more people across the district.

According to the census, the population of the Khairpur district is 1.7 million of whom women make 45 per cent. As such, the police claim of booking some 125,000 men in the riots means that more than half (55 per cent) of the male population of the district was made up of rioters.

Commenting on the figure, the district police sources said that the assassination of Bhutto was not an ordinary incident, hence, the reaction was also of the same degree, which also attracted the criminals to have a field day.

Police sources added that there were some eight gangs of criminals led by notorious dacoits operating in the Khairpur district, adding that each gang comprised 15 to 20 outlaws.

Police said that these gangs took advantage of the tragic death of the PPP leader and got started looting road and train passengers during the calamity-hit days.

Meanwhile, District Nazim Pir Niaz Hussain Shah, Taluka Nazim, advocate, Tahir Imtiaz Phulpoto and DCO Khairpur while briefing media men said that during the unrest in the district, 26 banks, 133 private vehicles, 65 government vehicles, 04 police mobile vans, 54 shops, 14 petrol stations, 14 party offices, 06 warehouses, school buildings and private houses were set ablaze by the miscreants.