July 26, 2008	Saturday	Rajab 22, 1429

DADU, July 25: Shutter-down strike was observed in Bhan Saeedabad, Sehwan, Amri, Sann, Khanoth, Manjhand, Budhapur and Unnarpur towns and rallies were held in Kotri, Jamshoro, Nooriabad and Thana Bula Khan towns on Thursday in protest against arrest of Sindh United Party workers and deteriorating law and order situation in Jamshoro district.

The call for strike was given by SUP chairman Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah to protest against law and order situation, political victimisation and increase in fuel prices.

In Bhan Saeedabad, local SUP leader Roshan Buriro said in his address to a rally that party activists were facing political victimisation in various parts of Jamshoro.

He said that law and order situation was getting from bad to worse and road robberies and house looting had become a routine matter. Police had utterly failed to maintain law and order, he said.

In Sehwan, district president of SUP Mir Moula Bux Leghari said at a rally that prices of fuel and food items were on the increase and the poor were committing suicide. Police had arrested more than 50 people after raiding several places to pressurise them to change loyalty, he said.

In Kotri, a large number of activists took part in a rally, which was led by local SUP leaders Irfan Shah and Ghulam Hussain Jatoi. In Nooriabad also, a rally was held, which was led by Malik Nadir Khan, Kaloo Khan and in Jamshoro, a rally was taken out by Haq Nawaz Dahiri, Mashooq Chandio and Abbas Khan.

Mr Shah told newsmen in Sann that political victimisation against SUP workers in Jamshoro after general elections had become the order of the day.

He said that police had arrested SUP worker Ghulam Shabbir Shaikh from Thana Bula Khan and released him after 45 days. Kotri police had arrested Abdul Salam Khoso, Sajan Khoso and challaned them in fake cases.

He said that police in Unnarpur and Manjhand had arrested Haji Pehalwan, Sikandar and Bajar Khoso and implicated them in fake cases.

He said that he had informed high officials of police but no one paid any attention and let the political victimisation continue against party workers.