Pakistan News: A two-day protest staged by Pakistan’s Hindu Kolhi community in Sindh’s Badin district ended on Friday after senior police and administrative officials assured demonstrators that action would be taken against an influential landlord accused of murdering a young peasant. The sit-in, which disrupted traffic and coal transportation routes, concluded following multiple rounds of negotiations between protesters and authorities.
The protest was organised by thousands of members of the minority Kolhi community, including men, women, and children, who gathered to demand justice for 22-year-old Kailash Kolhi. The demonstration received support from over a dozen political, nationalist, and religious groups, reflecting widespread anger over the alleged killing and the delay in the arrest of the accused.
As part of the protest, demonstrators blocked the Thar coal supply road and the main highway connecting Badin to Hyderabad via Tando Muhammad Khan. The road blockade brought vehicular movement to a standstill and drew attention to the community’s demand for the immediate arrest of Sarfaraz Nizamani, a powerful local landlord accused of killing the young peasant earlier this month.
According to protest leaders, Kailash Kolhi was shot dead on January 4 in a village near Talhar. The protesters alleged that a dispute escalated into violence when the accused opened fire, killing Kailash on the spot. They further claimed that Nizamani fled the scene along with armed associates. Although a police case was registered following the incident, the accused remained at large, triggering outrage and prompting the large-scale protest.
Deputy Commissioner Yasir Bhatti and Senior Superintendent of Police Qamar Raza Jikani held three rounds of talks with the protesters to defuse the situation. The negotiations were led by the victim’s father, Chetan Kolhi, who insisted that authorities take swift and concrete action against those responsible for his son’s death.
Following assurances from the administration that serious efforts would be made to arrest the accused, the protesters agreed to end the sit-in. However, they issued a one-week ultimatum, warning that protests would resume if no progress was made within the promised timeframe.
Speaking to the media, Chetan Kolhi alleged that Sarfaraz Nizamani was intoxicated at the time of the incident and acted in a fit of rage. He said the family rushed to the village after hearing gunshots and found Kailash lying on the ground with fatal bullet injuries. He further claimed that when family members arrived, the accused and his armed companions threatened them before fleeing the area.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from minority rights activists and civil society members. Activist Sodhi Kolhi condemned the killing, describing it as a grim reminder of the vulnerability of poor and marginalised communities in rural Pakistan. She questioned why the police had failed to arrest the main suspect despite public pressure and clear allegations, and urged authorities to uphold the rule of law without discrimination.
The case has once again highlighted concerns over justice, accountability, and the safety of minority communities in the region.