By our correspondent
KARACHI: The Chief Minister of Sindh, Murad Ali Shah, has taken notice of the burning of houses in Jacobabad following a dispute linked to a so-called “love marriage”, as authorities confirmed arrests and an ongoing crackdown under anti-terror laws.
According to a statement from the provincial government spokesperson, the incident in the village of Siddiq Arain in Jacobabad took place around a week ago and escalated after a young couple contracted what they describe as a consensual marriage.
Officials said the girl’s family initially filed an abduction case, but the couple later appeared in the Sindh High Court, where they maintained that the marriage had been entered into of their own free will. The couple also shared statements on social media rejecting claims that the woman had been abducted, alleging instead that false accusations, including theft allegations, had been used against them.
Police later intervened, and according to officials, five suspects have been arrested so far under anti-terrorism provisions, while around 20 others are still on the run. Raids are continuing to apprehend the remaining accused. Reports from the area suggest that armed groups allegedly set fire to multiple homes in what authorities describe as collective punishment against the opposing family or community.
One of the houses destroyed reportedly belonged to a family preparing for a daughter’s wedding, now left displaced and living under open skies in extreme heat after losing their belongings. A case has been registered against 32 named suspects, with investigators widening the scope of arrests amid fears of further escalation.
