NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: The Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM)’s call for a province-wide strike on Tuesday against firing by a law-enforcement agency’s personnel on its activists and supporters during a protest sit-in remained effective in Naushahro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Jacobabad and some other districts where routine life in most cities and towns was badly affected. A cool or mixed response was reported from other parts of the province.

The JSQM had given the call after six of its activists were wounded in the firing during the course of the sit-in on Monday.

It was reported that the unformed personnel were trying to persuade the protesters to let their vehicles pass through the sit-in venue at the Naushahro Feroze bypass section of the National Highway but someone from the sit-in participants attacked them and other law-enforcers with stones injuring a CIA official.

The unformed men responded the attack with firing wounding six of them. JSQM chairman Sannan Qureshi, who along with other party leaders was leading the sit-in, speaking to the media on Monday evening gave the strike call alleging that the law-enforcers

Mr Qureshi, along with his vice chairman Niaz Kalani, six wounded activists and around 500 workers and supporters were booked at the Naushahro Feroze police station late on Monday evening for attacking unformed personnel, rioting and inciting people to violence.

SHO Abdullah Awan registered the FIR (67/2016) under the relevant sections of the Pakistan penal code and antiterrorism act.

No arrests were, however, made till late Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, no markets, bazaars, shops, vending outlets, fuel stations and other trade and commercial concerns opened in the morning in most cities and towns of the district including Moro, Mithiani, Tharoshah, Darbelo, Bhiriya City, Kandiaro, Halani, Kotri Kabir, Mehrabpur, Padidan and Darya Khan Marri in response to the strike call. Public transport on roads and intercity routes remained thin. However, routine life started returning to normal in the second half of the day.

LARKANA: A shutterdown strike was observed in Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts where JSQM activists were seen patrolling roads and streets riding motorcycles and other vehicles to express their anger over the firing incident. At some places, activists were seen enforcing the strike.

Vehicular traffic in most areas of the two districts plied without any disruption while the ongoing HSC exams remained unaffected.

At Jinnahbagh gate in Larkana city, JSQM workers held a demonstration raising slogans against the use of force against their party colleagues and demanding release/recovery of their party’s senior vice chairman, Kehar Ansari, allegedly picked up by security personnel more than a week ago.

The peaceful strike ended in the evening when life started returning to normal.

SUKKUR: A complete closure and transport strike was observed in Jacobabad where JSQM workers held protest demonstrations and rallies in different cities and towns. The main rally was taken out from Shaheed Allah Bukhsh Park in Jacobabad city which ended outside the local press club, where a sit-in was held for a few hours.

A similar rally was taken out in Sukkur, which remained unaffected by the strike call. JSQM activists carrying party flags, banners and placards assembled outside the local press club raising slogans against the government and law-enforcement agencies. They urged the higher authorities to take action against the errant uniformed men for using live ammunition against peaceful protesters. They called for declaring the whereabouts of Mr Ansari. A protest demonstration was also held in Thull town.

The strike call received mixed response in Khairpur, Shikarpur and Ghotki districts.

NAWABSHAH: Most cities and towns of Shaheed Benazirabad district including Nawabshah, Sakr­and, Daur, Bandhi and Qazi Ahmed remained closed.

Strict security arrangements were made to avoid violence as police personnel remained deplo­y­ed at important public places.

HYDERABAD: While Tando Mohammad Khan stayed shut, a mixed-response to the strike call was reported from other parts of this division like Hyderabad, Matiari and Tando Allahyar districts on Tuesday. The Qasimabad taluka of Hyderabad district also remained unaffected.

JSQM activists took out a rally in Hala to condemn the firing incident and demand action against those responsible for the action.

JSQM vice chairman Dr Niaz Kalani, speaking to Dawn said that some of his party workers were arrested in Naushahro Feroze and Ghotki districts on Monday evening but they were later released.

BADIN: People of Badin district gave a little response to the JSQM strike call as life in most cities and towns remained normal.

Vehicular traffic on roads plied as usual but the it was thin on intercity routes of Mithi, Mirpurkhas and Jhuddo.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2016