SUKKUR: The Babarloi police of Khairpur district on Friday booked 13 activists and their 150 unknown supporters for blocking a thoroughfare and indulging in rioting, acts of terrorism, raising anti-state slogans and other criminal activities.

Several activists have been arrested and a hunt for others is being conducted, the police said.

The crackdown was started during a sit-in held on Babarloi Bypass on Wednesday for the recovery of 27 children who have been unaccounted for since their disappearance in different parts of Sindh over the last few years.

The Babarloi police on Wednesday evening used force to disperse the sit-in participants, who included lawyers, civil society activists, members of nationalist groups and ordinary citizens, besides family members of the missing children. One of the missing persons is Priya Kumari, who had gone missing in her childhood on Aug 19, 2021. She was serving water at sabeel on the date — the Ashura Day — near Sangrar town of Sukkur, when she went missing.

Participants were demanding recovery of Priya Kumari, 26 other missing children; 13 activists, 150 unknown protesters accused of attacking police, rioting and raising anti-state slogans

Organisers of the sit-in, calling itself the ‘Priya Action Committee’, strongly condemned the police action. Its leader, Sohni Paras, said that the sit-in participants were expressing solidarity with the families of Priya Kumari, Ujala Solangi and 25 other missing children and demanding safe recovery of all these children but the police unnecessarily used force against the protesters.

The police baton-charged the protesters injuring many of them, the committee said.

The FIR registered on behalf of the state carried the names of civil society activists Sohni Paras, Punhal Sario, Gul Hassan Khoso, Sardar Solangi, Jabbar Sheikh, Shehnaz Sheikh, Mithal Khuhro, Shamsuddin Solangi, Ibrahim Solangi and four others.

The Babarloi police alleged that the protesters blocked the National Highway, pelted policemen and their vehicles with stones, raised anti-state slogans, desecrated the national flag and obstructed public servants from performing their official duties.

The police action drew a sharp reaction from legal fraternity, civil society organisations and nationalist entities, who demanded a transparent inquiry into the who episode, insisting that police took the violent action without any provocation as the sit-in was completely peaceful.

Boycott of court proceedings

The legal fraternity of Khairpur boycotted court proceedings on Friday in protest against the police action. A call to this effect was given by the Sindh Bar Council.

A group of lawyers also took out a rally from the District Bar Association office which ended outside Khairpur SSP’s office, where the participants also held a sit-in. They condemned the arrest of Sohni Paras, Liaquat Jalbani and other activists.

The rally was led by SBC member Syed Jaffer Ali Shah, Sajjad Ahmed Solangi, Fayyaz Ahmed Khamisani, Ghazanfar Jatoi and Ali Ahmed Memon.

They urged the provincial police chief and higher authorities to order immediate release all detained leaders and activists. They also called for the withdrawal of the “false” case against them.

DIG, SSP summoned

The Khairpur district and sessions court has, meanwhile, summoned the Sukkur DIG and Khairpur SSP asking them to explain their position on the alleged baton charge on participants of the Babarloi sit-in.

The order was issued by District and Sessions Judge Manu Mal on an application filed by advocates Fayyaz Khamisani and Ghazanfar Jatoi.

The judge asked the senior police officials to personally appear before him on July 25.

He also ordered the police authorities to produce all arrested protesters on the date.

Awami Tehreek condemns action

Awami Tehreek (AT) President Advocate Wasand Thari, Vice President Sattar Rand and other leaders, including Advocate Sarwan Jatoi, Advocate Asif Khoso, Mansoor Bapar, Dr Marvi and Hasna Rahujo have condemned the police action against the protesters.

In their statement, they said that protection of human rights, rule of law and safety of citizens were the foremost constitutional responsibilities of the state. They alleged that the government and police failed to fulfill these obligations.

The leaders deplored that police had not taken effective measures to recover the missing children and, instead, used force against peaceful protesters who included parents of the missing children.

They also condemned registration of a “false” case and invoking of Anti-Terrorism Act sections in it, besides accusing the protesters of raising anti-state slogans.

They demanded action against the police officials involved in the alleged use of force, and stressed immediate recovery of all missing children.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2026