December 29, 2007	Saturday	Zilhaj 18, 1428

SIALKOT, Dec 28: Outraged Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) activists set on fire the main election hall of Pakistan Muslim League-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in Sambrial late on Thursday night.

Hussain is contesting election from NA-112.

The protesters burnt PML-Q banners, hoardings and posters in protest against Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.

Also in Sambrial on Friday, the protesting PPP activists tried to set ablaze a marriage hall. They broke the windows and furniture of the hall, however, police reached the scene and stopped the protesters from burning the hall.

In consequence, all marriage halls in the city shut down and cancelled their functions. The Marriage Hall Owners Association announced three-day mourning.

In another development, paramilitary troops patrolled Sialkot on Friday afternoon to ensure peace and help the civil administration maintain law and order in this business hub of Pakistan. Sialkot District Coordination Officer Atta Muhammad Khan said paramilitary troops were called in to maintain peace in the city.

Moreover, funeral prayers for Ms Bhutto were offered in Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial, Uggoki, Pasrur, Badiana, Chawinda, Satrah, Shakargarh, Zafarwal, Baddomalhi, Noorkot and Narowal after Friday prayers. A large number of people from all walks of life attended the funeral prayers. More than 10,000 people attended the main funeral prayer at the compound of Sialkot Railway Station. Police and other law enforcement agencies remained present there on this occasion.

Separately, religious scholars belonging to all sects condemned Ms Bhutto’s assassination in their Friday sermons.

PPP local leaders arranged huge LCD television sets for their election cells and offices so that people can see Ms Bhutto’s burial live.

Complete shutter down and wheel jam strike was observed in both Sialkot and Narowal districts. All business centres and roads remained completely deserted. People burnt tyres on empty roads to vent their anger. The angry activists attacked the office of a courier service on Paris Road, buildings of several banks and the offices of the State Life Insurance Corporation. They attacked public and private vehicles and damaged many of them. They broke street and road lights.