MIRPURKHAS, Oct 7: A complete strike was observed here on Friday on the call of Sunni Tehrik in protest against the death sentence awarded to Mumtaz Qadri.

Strict security arrangements were made and rangers and police personnel were deployed at main roads and chowks to avert any untoward incident. All the markets and bazaars remained closed while traffic remained thin. All petrol pumps and CNG stations remained closed.

Groups of armed persons resorted to aerial firing and burnt tyres at M.A. Jinnah road and station road.

A protest rally was also taken out from Market chowk which marched up to press club.

Strike was also observed in Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Tando Jan Mohammad, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, Sindhri, Phuladiyoon and Jhillori.

Our staff correspondent adds from Hyderabad: Activists of Markazi Jamiat Ulma-i-Pakistan demonstrated outside press club against conviction of Mumtaz Qadri.

President of local chapter of Jamiat Syed Ashraf Ali Shah termed Qadri a true Muslim, adding that foreign forces were being appeased through this un-Islamic verdict but people of the country were well aware of this conspiracy.

Activists of Jamate-Islami held a protest in Latifabad against punishment awarded to Mumtaz Qadri. Addressing the protesters, JI deputy general secretary of Sindh Abdul Waheed Qureshi said that even opposition to blasphemy law was an offence and no Muslim could dare commit blasphemy. He said that late governor Salman Taseer's conduct was in conflict with Sharia laws and that's why he had to pay the price.