Hidayatullah Lohar’s target killing should be transparently investigated, HRCP

Karachi: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has demanded the Sindh government to ensure a transparent and independent investigation into the murder of political activist Hidayatullah Lohar without any external pressure.

It should be noted that on February 16, 2024, 56-year-old Hidayatullah Lohar, a primary school teacher in Naseerabad, was shot dead by unknown persons. He had adorned his daughters Sasi Lohar and Surath Loharko with the jewel of education

A fact-finding report presented by the HRCP at the Karachi Press Club revealed that the killing was probably a target killing incident linked to Hidayatullah’s nationalist activities.

On this occasion, Chairman Asad Iqbal Butt demanded the relevant authorities to unconditionally release the protesters, including Hidayatullah’s two sons, who were detained for protesting against the killing and allow them to hold a peaceful assembly. To be allowed to exercise the right to liberty, due to which he was forcibly disappeared twice.

read more: The killing of the teacher

The HRCP Commission believes that there does not seem to be any other reason for the murder of Hidayatullah Lohar. Apart from this, the fact-finding report also expressed concern over the initial reluctance of the police to file an FIR despite the testimonies of Hidayatullah Lohar’s family and the CCTV footage of the incident. However, the court directed the filing of an FR of the incident almost two weeks after the murder.

Asad Iqbal Butt said that in view of the threats to the lives of activists who raised their voices against enforced disappearances, the Sindh government should provide compensation and protection to Hidayatullah Lohar’s family. He said that the perpetrators of the murder should be brought to justice.

Senior journalist and analyst Dr. Tausef Ahmed has Column I wrote in detail about the attack on Hidayatullah Lohar that “two persons who were riding a 125 cc motorcycle suddenly appeared from nowhere and stopped Hidayat Lohar on the way. Then one of them made a video call from his smartphone and showed Hidayat Loharka’s face to someone on the mobile. Perhaps this person confirmed the instruction. One of them shot Hidayat’s face. Hidayat was shot three times in the face and one shot hit his neck.

On the other hand, the relatives of Hidayat Lohar say that the video footage of the murder was also found, in this video, the motorcycle number plate and the face of the person who fired at Hidayat are visible, but the police did not pay attention to this footage. Lohar’s daughters said that their father was engaged in the struggle for popularization of education and political and social change. He had no personal animosity towards any individual or group.