KHAIRPUR, May 16: Three supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional were killed and five others were injured when attackers opened fire on them in Kumb town on Thursday during the party’s province-wide strike against what it has described as massive rigging in the May 11 vote.
Most Sindh towns remained shut with all trade centres, shops and markets closed throughout the day during the strike.
A complete shutter-down strike was observed in Khairpur and adjoining towns, including Kumb, Pir Jo Goth, Gambat, Ranipur, Setharja and Thari Mirwah.
In the Kumb attack, Shamsuddin Wasan died on the spot and six others suffered injuries when a rally of PML-F workers came under fire in the town, 30 kilometres from Khairpur.
The injured were brought to nearby Kotdiji town and Khairpur civil hospital where two of them, identified as Nadeem Wasan and Feroze Gul Gopang, died before receiving medical help.According to protesters, nobody knew who attacked the rally and why. Local PML-F leadership also not said who the attackers were.
But, according to news agencies, workers of the PML-F, Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had clashed over forcing of shopkeepers to pull down the shutters during the strike and the three had died in an exchange of fire.
Khairpur SSP Naveed Khuwaja told Dawn the situation had been brought under control. Police pickets had been set up and patrolling had been intensified in the town to avoid a repeat of such an incident, he said.
SANGHAR: A complete shutter-down and wheel-jam strike was observed in Sanghar and adjoining towns of Shahdadpur, Tando Adam, Khipro, Sinjhoro, Shahpur Chakar, Jam Nawaz Ali and Jhol which remained closed throughout the day.
The roads wore a deserted look but for rallies taken out by PML-F activists.
Three persons identified as Najaf Ali, Madad Ali and Noor Ali suffered injuries in firing into the air in Sanghar.
LARKANA: Larkana, Qambar and Shahdadkot towns remained completely shut during the strike. PML-F activists took out a procession in Larkana which terminated outside the main gate of Jinnahbagh.
Addressing the protesters, the party leaders urged Nadra to check thumb impression on ballot papers to determine the veracity of votes and called for re-election in entire province.
SUKKUR: PML-F workers forced almost all bazaars, shops and trade centres to close business in Sukkur to enforce the party’s call for strike against rigging in polls.
The party workers took out a motor rally from Rohri to Sukkur, waving party flags and raising slogans against rigging.
A partial strike was observed in Ghotki where markets were closed in the morning but reopened in the afternoon. The strike mostly remained peaceful.
MIRPURKHAS: Almost all shops and markets remained closed during the PML-F’s strike in Mirpurkhas and adjoining towns including Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Jhuddo, Tando Jan Mohammad, Naokot, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, Sindhri, Phuladyyoon, Hingorno and Khaan.
There was no traffic on the roads and policemen were deployed at different places in the city to preempt any untoward incident.
MITHI: A complete strike was observed in Mithi, Islamkot, Diplo, Nagarparkar and Chhachhro towns of Tharparkar district in response to the PML-F’s call for protest.
Traffic remained off the roads and markets and shopping centers were shut in Mithi as PML-F activists, most of them armed with sticks, were marching on the roads, much to the inconvenience of villagers who came to town to shop essential items of daily life.
UMERKOT: A complete shutter-down strike was observed in Umerkot, Samaro, Pithoro and other adjoining towns as PML-F workers took out rallies to protest vote rigging.
PML-F activists put up hindrances on roads to block vehicular traffic, which led to scuffles between transporters and activists at a number of places. Speakers at a PML-F rally at the press club said the caretaker government had failed to hold election in a fair and transparent manner, allowing the PPP to rig polls in its favour.
They alleged PML-F voters were threatened, harassed and stopped from casting votes. They did not want violence but just wanted to record their protest, they said.
BADIN: A complete strike was observed in Badin and its adjoining towns of Golarchi, Talhar, Tando Bago, Matli, Kario Ghanwar and Khorwah where markets were shut in response to the PML-F’s call for strike.
PML-F candidates, Bibi Yasmeen Shah (NA-225), Syed Ali Bux Shah (PS-58), Taj Mohammad Mallah (PS-57) and PML-N’s Mohammad Ismail Rahu (PS-59) who lost polls along with their supporters observed a sit-in at DC Chowk to protest what they termed ‘massive rigging’ in polls.
They said that according to result sheets provided to their polling agents they were winning but later results were changed in the dark of the night and PPP candidates were declared winners.
They said that people’s mandate had been hijacked and handed over to the PPP. The election commission was acting a silent spectator despite receiving innumerable complaints and proof about large-scale rigging, they said.
They demanded scrutiny of thumb impressions on ballot papers to discard bogus votes and said the ECP should not notify results before verification of ballots.
They accused the Badin police of arresting PML-F workers and implicating them in false cases at the behest of PPP candidates and urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the Chief Election Commissioner to take notice of victimisation of PML-F voters.
HYDERABAD: In some parts of Hyderabad, besides Tando Allahyar, Tando Mohammad Khan and Matiari, the PML-F’s call for strike received a positive response. Rallies were taken out and bonfires were lit at a number of places to condemn rigging in election.
There are reports of firing into the air in different areas in Tando Allahyar on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
