HYDERABAD, Dec 29: Seven people were killed and a PPP activist committed suicide in four districts of Sindh, late Friday night and on Saturday.

However, relative clam prevailed throughout interior Sindh following deployment of Army and Rangers.

Fear gripped almost every district and town of the province as people preferred to remain indoors. Troops were patrolling but roads were deserted with no traffic even on highways. Closure of bazaars and main markets led to shortage of daily-use commodities, all around.

According to reports, three persons each were killed in Tando Allahyar and Hyderabad districts on Friday night and Saturday, one was gunned down in Dadu while a PPP worker committed suicide in Shikarpur by shooting himself to death. Communication system remained badly affected. A few newspapers were distributed.

Aziz Malik and M.H. Khan report from Hyderabad that the city still looks ravaged where death of three persons was confirmed on Saturday. People bought daily commodities at hefty cost. Bodies of two PPP supporters were brought to the Civil Hospital by Husri Police shot dead by a law enforcing agency’s personnel for allegedly attempting to vandalize an oil field near Husri. Hospital’s medico-legal section said relatives identified their bodies on Saturday as of Hamal and Hamid Ali and took away after post-mortem.

The charred body of Yar Mohammad Babbar 48, guard of a private security company posted at the ABL Hala Naka Branch was recovered from inside by the morning shift guard Fida Hussain. The branch was reported to be put on fire on Thursday.

The non-availability of transport and ambulances made matters worse for some bereaved families. According to hospital sources four unclaimed bodies were still kept in morgue for want of transport. Hospital ambulances were not parked in the premises to avoid damages.

“We are poor people and anxious to transport our beloved ones but in vain”, said an aged man whose relative died a natural death. Similar comments were heard everywhere. Even Edhi Trust was not willing as theirs’ too had been damaged.

PPP worker Ghulam Abbas s/o Raza Mohammad received bullet injuries in Mir Fazal Town, Unit-9 Latifabad and was shifted to Civil Hospital. Aerial firing was reported from various localities. Troops and rangers kept patrolling troubled areas.

Two persons Zaman Pathan and Ali Abbas suffered bullet injuries in Hussainabad area by police firing with another version of exchange of fire. Offices in Customs House and vehicles were torched on Friday while a petrol pump was burnt at Badin bus stop.

An uneasy calm prevailed in Hyderabad throughout the day where business establishments, commercial centres and bazaars remained closed. Fears of burning of vehicles by emotionally charged PPP supporters did not allow transporters to bring out their vehicles.

Half a dozen filling stations had been completely burnt during last two days. Askari petrol pump located in Cantonment Area was opened with soldiers allowing one at a time to fill tanks.

Acute shortage of food, milk and flour made life miserable as few shops were open in parts of Latifabad and Shah Faisal Colony attracting huge rush.

Some traders were exploiting situation to earn maximum profit. A flour mill owner in Liaquat Colony was selling flour at Rs30 per kg. “I bought flour for Rs40 kg although its actual rate is Rs20”, said a consumer in Liaquat Colony. Families wanting to move out of the city were stuck up due to the absence of rail and bus services.

The civic agencies or police did not remove burnt vehicles and bonfire that littered almost all main arteries. Garbage too was not being lifted as TMA staff was afraid of violent reaction.

Residents of Bhittai Nagar demonstrated resulting in a hide and seek game between them and law enforcers against whom they raised slogans. However, no unpleasant incident occurred.

The GOC Hyderabad, Major General Abdul Aziz Tariq visited affected areas. Businessmen and elite called on the GOC in the Garrison and briefed him about problems being faced by the public and extended support to Army.

Two peons of Taluka Nazim Jhando Mari at Pyaro Lund, district Tando Allahyar were burnt on Friday but their bodies were retrieved on Saturday. They were identified as Hajan Lund and Mumtaz Jarwar. According to Taluka Nazim Mir Mohammad Ghulam alias Mir Pappu arsonists on Friday had attacked his office, located away from the city area. Pappu said that around seven assailants committed the murder. The deceased’s relatives will lodge case against murderers. Assailants locked them in washroom and set ablaze the office.

Basheer Deeshak died on Saturday after receiving serious burn injuries when an oil tanker was set alight on Tando-Allahyar-Chambar Road on Friday.

In Tando Mohammad Khan district with deployment of Rangers in three talukas Bulri Shah Karim, Tando Ghulam Hyder and Tando Muhammad Khan, no major incident of violence was reported on Saturday.

However, some miscreants resorted to aerial firing in some parts of the city. People offered Ghaibana Nimaz-e-Janaza for the departed soul of Benazir Bhutto at Mir Ghulam Ali Park.

Niaz Mohammad Khan adds from Sanghar, the entire district remained paralysed on third day. Tando Adam, Shahdadpur, Khipro, Shahpur Chakar, Khadro, Jhol, Sinjhoro and many small towns wore deserted look.

People faced shortage of daily use items including vegetables, bread etc. Petrol pumps stayed closed. People are still in shock while some angry people closed Sanghar-Bakhoro Road by placing a tree trunk. After 12 hours, Rangers and police opened the road. Rangers were patrolling main towns. Hur Jamat announced on loudspeakers to open the city and end strike but people paid no heed.

Rehmatullah Soomro reports from Shikarpur that all shops, business houses, government offices, banks, post offices and petrol pumps remained closed, while Army was deployed. Ghaibana Nimaz-e-Janaza of late Benazir Bhutto was offered at different places of the city. However, no untoward incident was reported from any party of the district.

Mourning processions were taken out in groups by PPP activists and citizens. The protesters raised slogans against the government.

Manzoor Ali Bijarani committed suicide by shooting himself with gun in desperation on assassination of Ms Benazir Bhutto in village Marikh.

Mansoor Mirani reports from Khairpur that Ghaibana Nimaz-e-Janaza was offered at different places including Dilshad Park and Panj Hatti, Ranipur, Thari Mirwah, Pakka Chang, Kot Laloo and other towns.

Entire district including all major towns and Khairpur city remained closed on third day. Food items were not available due to which people faced hardship. At certain places, food items were being sold at exorbitant rates.

Police arrested some people but their names were not disclosed. However, police denied arrest.

People travelling to their home towns and villages faced difficulties as transport remained off the road.

A peaceful procession was taken out from Nim More to Khaki Shah Pul in Khairpur. A mob set ablaze Degree College Karondi, taluka Faiz Ganj but people controlled it.

The PTCL-V wireless network remained suspended. Prepaid cards and easy load of cell services were not available throughout the district which multiplied the hardships of people.

Zulfikar Memon reports from Nawabshah, complete shutter down strike was observed in the district. Union council office in 60-Mile was set ablaze. Ghaibana Nimaz-e-Janaza was offered in Eidgah and other places. Telephone system was not restored. Rangers and police patrolled the sensitive areas. Citizens suffered due to shortage of essential commodities.

Abdul Aziz adds from Naushahro Feroze, complete shutter down was observed in the district while people faced difficulties due to non-availability of essential commodities. Telephone system remained non-functional. Army was patrolling the area. About 400 wheat bags were looted from food godown in Naushahro Feroze.

A high level meeting was held and attended by Zila Nazim Ghulam Rasool Jatoi, Colonel Mateen of Pakistan Army, DCO and all taluka nazims to review law and order and provide vehicles to army for patrolling. Taluka nazims and DDOs were directed to ascertain losses during protests and report. No untoward incident was reported.

Iqbal Khawaja reports from Thatta that despite non-availability of commodities, denial of medical and transport facilities, people continued to mourn the death of their leader.

Almost all towns including the twin towns of Thatta and Makli wore a deserted look. The highway was littered with boulders and burnt vehicles. All offices remained without staff. People arranged fateha and Quran Khwani at their houses.

Due to setting ablaze taluka nazim office the sanitary staff remained absent. People were facing shortage of atta and due to closure of petrol pumps the traffic remained thin.

Army was patrolling main towns.

Tension prevailed in the district and the local administration which had vanished after the incident was first time found patrolling in the area under the umbrella of Army.

Qurban Ali Khushik reports from Dadu, a PPP worker Kashif Baloch was killed and another injured when unidentified armed men attacked PPP caravan when it reached Mehar from Naudero. PPP workers staged demonstration at Mehar bypass and burnt tyres and police resorted to aerial firing and dispersed the protesters.

Dadu, Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah and Sehwan towns remained closed where Ghaibana Nimaz-e-Janaza was also held. Army with support of local police started patrolling in Dadu and Mehar.

Qamaruddin adds from Mirpurkhas, shops and business remained closed on third consequent day, while tension and harassment prevailed. Law enforcing agencies were patrolling in the city to avert any untoward incident.

On late Friday night, unruly mob intercepted a mobile of town Police Station in Sabzi Mandi area and set on fire. A shop was also looted and set on fire at Hirabad. Traffic remained missing from roads.

Mirpurkhas remained disconnected from other parts of the province due to blockade of roads and suspension of railway services. At least 37 people were arrested by law enforcing agencies in the city on charges of looting and damaging the private and government properties and disturbing law and order.

Poultry farmers told that poultry chickens were dying due to shortage of feed.