23 December 2004	Thursday	10 Ziqa'ad 1425

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HYDERABAD, Dec 22: A black day being observed by the People's Party Parliamentarians in the interior of Sindh against the arrest of Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday turned into a celebration following his release by the Sindh High Court.

Police had made strict security arrangements and quite a few PPP activists were reportedly arrested in Thatta, Jacobabad and other places for violation of section 144 of Cr.PC.

In Hyderabad, party activists, led by MNAs Amir Ali Shah Jamote and Shagufta Jumani and MPAs Nuzhat Pathan, Farheen Mughal and Zahid Bhurgari, marched from the residence of MPA Zahid Bhurgari to the press club.

A scuffle also took place between the party activists and police in which one Siddiq Mirani was injured. City general- secretary Mir Fateh Talpur was arrested when he came out of his house.

LARKANA: Two People's Party Parliamentarians workers were injured when police baton-charged here on Wednesday. A group of the workers had assembled in the PPP office in Kennedy Market to take out a procession to protest arrest of Asif Zardari but police already present there resisted them.

Police resorted to baton-charge and injured Kamran Odhano and Beebul Babbar. Later dodging police, the PPP workers took to the streets and burnt tyres at Royal Chowk.

JACOBABAD: PPP activists took out a procession from the party's city office. Police arrested PPP Sindh Council member Mohammad Aslam Abro, district party general-secretary Abdul Sattar Brohi, city president Akbar Pirzada, city general-secretary Syed Mehboob Ali Shah, city vice-president Mir Dad Mohammad Talani and district PRO Shaukat Ali Domki.

When contacted, the City TPO said the PPP activists had been arrested for violation of section 144 of Cr.PC and an FIR would be registered against them. Processions were also taken out in Thul and Kandhkot. Abdul Rehman Bhangwar and Shehzeelo Khoso of Kandhkot were detained for some time.

DADU: A black day was observed in different towns of the district on Wednesday. PPP workers also took out processions in Khairpur Nathan Shah, Sehwan, Phulji and Sita Road towns on Tuesday night. The workers distributed sweets after hearing the news of Mr Zardari's release.

NAWABSHAH: Sweets were distributed among people outside the PPP's district office in Gharibabad following the grant of bail to Mr Zardari.

THATTA: Activists of the PPP celebrated the release of Mr Zardari here. They took out a procession which after marching through main thoroughfares converged at the party's district headquarters.

KHAIRPUR: Two processions were taken out by PPP activists here. The first procession started from the Jilani House and culminated at the press club where the activists staged a sit-in.

Another procession was taken out from the Wassan House which reached at the railway station road where a demonstration was held. The protest turned into a festivity after the release of Mr Zardari and party activists distributed sweets.

BADIN: A complete strike was observed in Badin and Kadhan and partial strike was observed in other towns of the district. PPP workers from Talhar, Tando Bago, Golarchi and other areas reached at the general bus stand in Badin and took out a procession.

NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: PPP activists took out a procession and held a demonstration outside the local press club.

MIRPURKHAS: Workers of the PPP held a demonstration here. They distributed sweets following the release of Mr Zardari.

MITHI: Police arrested a number of PPP workers near the press club here when they took out a procession. Those arrested included Chandar Sharma, councillor Amar Udani, Vinod Malani, Shankar Maharaj, Ashok Malhi, Mahesh Johi, Hariram Bheel, Maheshwari and Bherulal.