The Sindh government has imposed Section 144 in five districts of upper Sindh, Sukkur, Ghotki, Shikarpur, Jacobabad and Kashmore, for a ten-day period starting from today (Tuesday).
The move is a precautionary measure to avoid any untoward incident in reaction to the expected verdict of the Supreme Court on April 18 (tomorrow) over the forced conversion case of Rinkle Kumari.
The imposition of Section 144 from April 17 to April 27 prohibits any kind of rallies, display of weapons and other social and political activities in the five districts.
According to the parents of Kumari, the woman was abducted by Naveed Shah.
The man, however, claims that the Hindu girl wilfully embraced Islam and got married with him
The matter was proceeded in local courts and then at the Sukkur circuit bench of Sindh High Court and its principle bench in Karachi. After the suo motu of Supreme Court of Pakistan, the case was transferred to the apex court.
At the previous hearing, the Supreme Court after recording the Kumari’s statement postponed the hearing for two weeks.
Insiders at the Sindh Home Department told Pakistan Today that to avoid any law and order situation or reaction after Supreme Court’s verdict either from the Muslims or the Hindu community, the provincial government imposed the Section 144 in the five upper Sindh districts.
It is worth to mention that civil society activists, Sindhi nationalist parties and the Hindu community have taken out many rallies in favour of the relatives of Kumari; whereas, while the rightwing parties have taken out rallies in favour of the alleged abductor across the province.
