By Imtiaz Hussain
SUKKUR: A protest demonstration was held for the fourth time at the Sukkur National Press Club against the alleged fabrication of FIRs registered against senior journalist Malook Baloch, reportedly on the instructions of SEPCO’s CEO.
The protest followed Baloch’s reports exposing alleged corruption within SEPCO, after which serious cases, including terrorism-related charges, were filed against him at police stations in Kashmore, Tharushah, Ghotki, Kandhra, and Sukkur.
The demonstration was led by Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) central leader Imdad Phulpoto. Prominent participants included Sukkur Union of Journalists President Parvez Khan, Sukkur National Press Club President Abdul Rauf Abbasi, General Secretary Rasheed Raza, senior journalist Din Muhammad Semejo, and a large number of journalists, civil society members, and social activists from Kandhra, Saleh Pat, Thakratho, Pano Aqil and nearby areas.
Protesters carried banners and placards calling for press freedom and highlighting what they described as the wrongful registration of cases against journalists. Speakers said Baloch had consistently exposed corruption, nepotism, and mismanagement within SEPCO in the public interest, and was now facing retaliatory action for speaking out.
They condemned the alleged misuse of authority by SEPCO’s acting CEO and described the targeting of journalists as a violation of constitutional rights to freedom of expression and press freedom.
The demonstrators demanded immediate intervention from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Leghari, the Sindh Chief Minister, and the Sindh Inspector General of Police. They called for impartial investigations into the CEO and other officials accused of corruption, the removal of corrupt officers, and the immediate withdrawal of all baseless cases against Baloch.
