February 03, 2008	Sunday	Muharram 24, 1429

THATTA, Feb 2: Hundreds of enraged PPP activists blocked the National Highway on Satur-day after its leader, Zulfiqar Mirza, and Thatta SP investigation Shaukat Shahani, exchanged hot words.

The guards of the PPP leader and policemen also took positions against each other at the venue where the PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari is scheduled to address a rally on Feb 9.

PPP leaders Zulfiqar Mirza, Makhdoom Jamiluzzaman and PPP candidates from Thatta, with Hyderabad DIG Shaukat Shah, DCO Thatta Usman Panhwar, DPO Daud Junejo and SP investigation Shaukat Shahani arrived at the sports complex ground to review arrangements for the scheduled public meeting of Asif Ali Zardari. During the visit, some PPP activists complained to Zulfiqar Mirza against atrocities of Thatta police. SP investigation Shaukat Shahani intervened and warned the activists to keep quiet or be ready to face the music after departure of the leaders, which annoyed Zulfiqar Mirza who grabbed the SP investigation by his collar and the PPP activists started beating him. Sensing danger both the police and guards of the PPP leaders took positions pointing guns towards each other. Later, PPP activists blocked the highway which was cleared after leaders intervention.