New Delhi: Controversy erupted after a Hindu farmer was shot dead in Pakistan’s Sindh earlier this week, sparking protests over the safety of minorities in the country. Reports identified the accused as Sarfaraz Nizamani, a feudal lord, who allegedly shot his tenant, Kailash Kohli, in the chest.
The motive behind the killing has not yet been ascertained. Following the incident, minority communities organised massive protests demanding the immediate arrest of the accused and full protection for the victim’s family.
Minority rights organisation raises question
Shiva Kachhi, chairman of the minority rights organisation Pakistan Darawar Ittehad, condemned the killing, calling it a “brutal and cold-blooded murder.”
Sharing a post on X, Kachhi said, “The blood of Kailash Kohli demands justice from all of us. This is not just the murder of one individual, but an attack on humanity, justice, and the fundamental rights and safety of minorities in Sindh. Our struggle will continue until the perpetrators are brought before the law and justice is served.”
Past controversies
The incident attracted significant attention as Pakistan’s Foreign Minister recently criticised India over minority rights while condemning the demolition drive near the Faiz-e-Elahi Mosque in Delhi’s Turkman Gate area. Delhi rejected Pakistan’s remarks, calling them “abysmal.”
Reacting to the remarks, the Ministry of External Affairs said it rejects the statements from a country whose “abysmal record on this front speaks for itself.” The MEA added, “Pakistan’s horrific and systemic victimisation of minorities of various faiths is a well-established fact. No amount of finger-pointing will obfuscate it.”