More than 100 homes were reduced to ashes in a brutal arson attack in Sindh’s Jacobabad district, triggered by a violent dispute over a free-will marriage between two individuals from different communities. The attack has left entire families homeless, forcing them to live under the open sky as authorities scramble to restore order.
A Marriage by Choice, A Village Destroyed
The violence erupted after Sidra, from the Channa community, married Muhammad Hassan Buriro of the Buriro community by choice. The couple has publicly stated they solemnized their marriage in a Hyderabad court on May 4. In a video message appealing for justice, they claimed they have been subjected to a barrage of allegations and threats since their union.
In retaliation, armed men allegedly stormed a village belonging to the Buriro community, opening fire indiscriminately and setting homes ablaze. Residents reported that panic spread rapidly, and the intensity of the gunfire made resistance impossible. Life savings were destroyed as the flames consumed everything.
Police Register Terrorism Case, Five Arrested
Law enforcement has registered a case under the Anti-Terrorism Act at the Mirpur Buriro Police Station. The First Information Report (FIR) was filed on the complaint of Ghulam Shabbir Buriro, naming 32 suspects including Mohsin Ali Channa, Saddam Hussain Channa, and Abdullah Channa.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Faizan Ali confirmed that five of the accused have been arrested, and raids are ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.
Conflicting Accounts: Abduction or Consensual Marriage?
The groom’s father, Malhar Buriro, questioned the collective punishment inflicted on the village. He claimed that around 400 armed men, led by Saddam Buriro and tribal leader Ahmed Ali Channa, carried out the attack while villagers remained helpless observers.
However, the Channa community has denied involvement in the arson, presenting a starkly different narrative. A representative claimed a minor girl had been abducted from their village and insisted they would pursue legal action through the courts. A video statement from the girl’s father has also surfaced, alleging that his 14-year-old daughter was married in violation of the Sindh Child Marriage Restraint Act. He further claimed that both his 14-year-old and 4-year-old daughters were abducted and have not yet been recovered.
Government Response: “Inhuman and Intolerable”
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has taken serious notice of the incident, condemning the mass arson as an “inhuman and intolerable act.” He has directed the police to launch strict action against all perpetrators and ordered the Larkana commissioner to provide urgent relief and assistance to the affected families.
The chief minister has sought an immediate report from the commissioner and the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Larkana Division. He stressed that a thorough investigation must determine under whose orders the houses were set on fire. “No one can be allowed to play with the lives and property of innocent people,” CM Murad warned, vowing that all perpetrators would be brought to justice.
