October 24, 2001	Wednesday	Shaba'an 6, 1422

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JACOBABAD, Oct 23: More than 20 persons were injured and over 100 workers of Jamaat-I-Islami, including district president and general secretary of Jacobabad, were arrested when they brought out a rally here on Tuesday to stage a sit-in to protest against the use of Shahbaz airbase by the US forces now engaged in attacks on Afghanistan.

The attacks are being carried out to flush out Osama bin Laden for his suspected role in suicide aircraft attacks on World Trade Centre in New York and on Pentagon and punish ruling Taliban militia for providing him a sanctuary in Afghnaistan. Police baton charged the rally which resulted in injuries to a number of participants.

Jacobabad city was almost besieged from all sides, to stop the entry of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) workers from other parts of the country.

A group of some 150 JI workers led by Deedar Ali Lashari, General Secretary of the Jacobabad district took out a rally at DC Chowk where they chanted anti-US slogans. They demanded the withdrawal of US troops from Pakistani airbases and end to US bombing of Afghan towns.

They accused the government of having bargained on country sovereignty.

The speakers said that the people of Pakistan had gave their opinion against the present regime and demanded its immediate ouster. Before the end of the rally the police tried to disperse the participants which resulted in clashes. Police resorted to baton-charge while the people hurled stones on them. In the fight seven persons were injured one of whom received head injuries.

Police took about one hundred JI workers in four vans and sent them to the lockup.

Abdul Hafeez Bijirani, district chief of JI, tried to took out a rally in the evening from Memon mosque. Before he could do so, police arrested him along with some Jamaat workers.

All the transport and train service to Jacobabad city was suspended since Monday night and people were stranded between Sukkur-Jacobabad, Larkana-Jacobabad and Dera Murad- Jacobabad.

Hundreds of people could not reach their place of work, as there was no transport as the police had stopped all kind of traffic to Jacobabad. Some of the protestors tried to reach Shahbaz airport but they failed as the law enforcement authorities had cordoned off the base. Entire Jacobabad city was deserted as the people and the traders had shut their trade and businesses fearing unrest.

Police had cut off trees on the highway to block the road. Press parties from Sukkur and Shikarpur counted more than 50 tree trunks on the road which were used to block the road.

At least one dozen-check posts were setup around Jacobabad where armed police and rangers were present with heavy machineguns to block the entry of the JI workers.

Munawwar Hasan, a central leader of the JI was expected to reach Jacobabad from Karachi but he was prevented at Karachi to leave the city.

Mumtaz Sehto acting Amir JI Sindh was also stopped at Sukkur from leading a rally to Jacobabad.

In Sukkur angry workers of JI took out a rally at Gurdawara Chowk and burnt tyres and damaged a police van. Before they could set the van on fire, police arrived on the scene and baton charged them.

Police arrested 10 Jamaat workers including Imran Memon son of Zakiria Memon, Amir JI Sukkur. A trader’s delegation led by Haji Sabir also took out a rally to protest the arrest of Amir JI son by the police. Police also arrested Fateh Chand, a prominent journalist who was covering the Tuesday rally. Later, on the protest of the reporters an ASI was suspended by SSP Jacobabad and reporter was released. A press party of Sukkur was also stopped by the police at Abad check-post but on intervention by SSP Jacobabad, Akhter Shah, it was allowed to cover the rally. A C-130 aircraft was taking off from Shahbaz airbase when the rally was in progress.

A large number of foreign correspondents had come to Jacobabad to cover the rally.

SHIKARPUR: Police and Shikarpur district administration foiled the attempt of Jamaat-i-Islami activists to proceed to Jacobabad to attend a sit-in there against the presence of US troops at Shahbaz airport, adds our correspondent Rahmatullah Soomro.

All the main roads and link roads of Shikarpur district leading to Jacobabad were blocked.

The main exit and entry routes linking Shikarpur-Jacobabad and National Highway were sealed and all kind of incoming and out-going transport was banned to ply on roads.

A journalists team of the district visited the police points and camps setup at Lakhi, Jehan Khan, Rais Wah, Shikarpur- Jacobabad bypass and Humayoon near Bari Begari canal which were aimed at to block the main entrance routes including National Highway by Shikarpur district police.

The Jacobabad police also blocked the National Highway at other side of Bari Begari canal bridge. About 150 JI activists were arrested on Monday. The police succeeded to control the situation and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the district on the occasion. DIG Larkana Fayaz Ahmed Leghari also visited Shikarpur and Jacobabad districts and inspected the security arrangements.