HYDERABAD: Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party (STP) on Sunday organised rallies, demonstrations and sit-ins in various cities and towns of the province in protest against the Saturday killing of its key leader, Hassan Samoon, in Thatta allegedly by his political rivals.

Several rallies were taken out in different parts of Hyderabad district while a sit-in was held on Hyderabad bypass to disrupt vehicular traffic on the intercity route. The participants demanded immediate arrest of the nominated suspects.

Mr Samoon was chairman of the STP concept committee. He was shot dead in an attack carried out by at least three assailants near his native village in Thatta. His three relatives were wounded in the attack.

Carrying party flags and banners, the protesters raised slogans against PPP and the Sindh government accusing them of being behind the attack.

STP secretary general Haider Mallah, finance secretary Shabbir Magsi, press secretary Jam Shaukat Abro and media coordinator Gotam Channa led the sit-in.

BADIN: Rallies, demonstrations and sit-in were held in all talukas of Badin districts on Sunday to condemn the killing of Hassan Samoon.Groups of STP activists stated sit-ins to block main thoroughfares in Tando Bago,

They announced a seven-day mourning across Sindh, saying that the ongoing sit-ins, rallies and demonstrations against the killing would continue for a week.

In reply to a question, Mr Mallah said no call for a wheel-jam for Sunday was given by his party. However, he added, protests would be held in each and every district of the province.

Local STP leaders Shahnawaz Siyal and Yakoob Halepoto led a big rally in Badin city to demand immediate arrest of the killers and certain other people involved in the attack.

The participants marched through the streets of the city and converged on the local press club, where the leaders spoke to them.

They called it a ‘political murder’ and raised slogans against several PPP leaders and activists including MPA Syed Awais Muzaffer Hashmi and Gul Mohammad Samoon. They also criticised the provincial government and Thatta administration for failing to protect the senior STP activist and arrest the culprits.

Talhar, Pangrio, Dei and other towns on the party’s central leadership’s call.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2014