LARKANA: The Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz has decided to drop the ‘freedom march’ it had been holding on March 23 and instead celebrate the day as culture day from next year, according to the party’s central leaders.

They announced on the occasion of the second death anniversary of their slain leader Bashir Khan Qureshi in Ratodero on Monday that the party had also decided to hold a big sit-in in Bhiriya Road town on April 13, where bodies of the party leaders Maqsood Qureshi and Salman Wadho were found, and block all roads leading to Punjab. “We do not expect justice from courts and police,” they said.

Senior party leaders Dr Niaz Kalani, Amjad Mahesar, Kehar Ansari, Abdullah Soomro and Bashir Khaskheli said that threats and assassinations would not stop the party’s struggle for their just rights.

They said that from now on, March 23 would be celebrated as culture day every year. Bashir Qureshi was killed after holding March 23 congregation in Karachi in 2012 and just two days before the party’s planned ‘freedom march’ on March 23 this year Maqsood Qureshi and Slaman Wadho were kidnapped, killed and burnt, they said.

Earlier, thousands of party workers and supporters who arrived in Ratodero from different parts of the province offered fateha and laid floral wreaths on the graves of their leaders.

The party’s central leaders led by its chairman Sannan Qureshi also placed floral wreaths on the graves and stood silent for some time as a sign of respect for the dead.

The administration had deployed 250 policemen to provide security to the gathering. Besides, 500 JSQM workers also performed as security volunteers.