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HYDERABAD, Feb 14: Protests were held in different parts of Sindh on Tuesday against the publication of blasphemous cartoons in European newspapers.
In Hyderabad, a shutter-down strike was observed in the district’s four talukas on a call given by traders during a protest demonstration outside the press club on Friday.
Local chapters of religious parties also responded to the call and held separate protest demonstrations in the city.
Carrying sticks and rods, groups of enraged youths took to the streets in the morning. Effigies of Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, US President George W. Bush and other leaders were burnt. Signboards of different multinational companies were also damaged.
The protesters roamed about different localities raising slogans against newspapers which had published the blasphemous cartoons. Almost all main roads were littered with bonfires and stones and bricks, causing hurdles in the flow of traffic.
Belonging to various traders’ organizations, the protesters held demonstrations outside the press club.
Workers of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Anjuman Sheer Maal Association, Pasban minority wing, Anjuman Ashiqan-i-Rasool, Ghausia Jamaat, JUI-F, JUP, JI, and JUI (Sami group) took out separate processions.
SUKKUR: More than 1,000 people took out a protest procession and staged a sit-in in Ghotki.
The protesters, belonging to different political and religious parties and social organizations, were led by JUI leaders Maulana Siraj Amroti and Maulana Ishaq Leghari.
After marching through different thoroughfares, they reached the main chowk of the city and staged a sit-in there for one hour.
The protesters demanded that the government should sever diplomatic relations with countries which had published the blasphemous cartoons.
Later, they burnt effigies of the US president and the Danish prime minister.
BADIN: A strike was observed in the Shaheed Fazil Rahoo town on a call of the Shehri Ittehad.
All shops, bazaars, trade centres and educational institutions in the town remained closed.
People from different walks of life, including teachers, students, journalists and intellectuals, participated in a procession.
Carrying placards and banners, they marched through different roads of the town and staged a sit-in on the Badin-Karachi highway for over three hours.
The protesters burnt effigies of President Bush, prime ministers of Israel and Denmark and editors of newspapers of European countries.
NAWABSHAH: People of the district responded to a strike call of the Shehri Action Committee.
Led by action committee general secretary Aslam Khenchi, Sharif Shaikh of a trade union, Abdul Sattar Qureshi, Shafi Jadoon, Sufi Saleem and Maulana Mohammad Yaqoob Qadri, a procession was also taken out from Kabeer mosque which reached the press club.
Hundreds of people participated in the protest who raised slogans against Denmark, Norway, France and Israel.
Enraged protesters burnt flags of Norway and Denmark and effigies of the US president and the Norwegian prime minister.
Lawyers also boycotted court proceedings and joined the procession.
KHAIRPUR: Responding to a call of the JUI and other religious parties, a strike was observed in Pir-Jo-Goth.
Activists of the parties marched through main roads of the town and held a demonstration at the Mohib Ali chowk.
MIRPURKHAS: A shutter-down strike was observed and processions were taken out in Jhuddo and Kot Ghulam Mohammad towns of the district.
Strict security measures had been adopted in the district and police had been deployed on main roads and sensitive places.
NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: Lawyers of the district boycotted court proceedings on Tuesday to protest against the publication of blasphemous cartoons.
