HYDERABAD, Oct 15: Activists of nationalist parties took out rallies and held demonstrations across the province on Monday in response to the Sindh Bachayo Committee’s call for observing the day as a black day in protest against the Sindh People’s Local Government Act, 2012, and the PPP’s public meeting in Hyderabad the same day. A number of political and religious organisations, including Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, National People’s Party, PPP-SB, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and PML-F, and literary organisations had also supported the SBC’s call for protest.

In Hyderabad, scores of SBC (a conglomerate of nationalists and political parties) workers observed black day by wearing black armbands and carrying black flags as they took out a rally from the Old Campus of the University of Sindh to the press club.

Muzaffar Kalhoro of the Sindh Taraqqi-pasand (STP) Party, Roshan Buriro of the Sindh United Party (SUP), Mukhtiar Abbasi of the Awami Jamhoori Party (AJP), Awami Tehrik (AT) leader Noor Ahmed Katiar, lawyers and representatives of civil society who participated in the rally said that they would continue to protest till the law was repealed.

They said that workers of nationalist parties were being harassed and arrested for opposing the LG law, which  they said was the first step towards division of Sindh. But, they vowed, heirs of Sindh’s traditional and cultural values would not allow anyone to bargain away their land.

SUKKUR: Activists of nationalists and political parties took out rallies and observed token hunger strikes in Mirpur Mathelo, Sukkur and Jacobabad.

A large number of activists of the Jeay Sindh Mahaz led by party chairman Riaz Chandio and others held a demonstration outside the Sukkur Press Club and observed a token hunger strike.

Riaz Chandio said that Sindhis were not ready to accept the divisive law. They were protesting almost every day and demanding its immediate withdrawal but the government was not listening to their shouts and seeing their protests.

Activists of STP, SUP, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Tehrik (JSQT), Jeay Sindh Tehrik (JST), and JSQM took out a joint rally in Mirpur Mathelo and demonstrated against the LG law. Activists of PML-F also took out rally in the town. The protesters termed the law a conspiracy to divide Sindh. Activists of PPP-SB observed a token hunger strike to register their protest.

In Jacobabad, activists of STP, SUP and PPP-SB wore black armbands and hoisted black flags on their houses and educational institutions to observe the black day.

A number of rallies were taken out by workers of nationalist parties. The protesters said that they would not allow division of Sindh at any cost.

DADU: Activists of nationalist parties and workers of PML-N and PML-F observed black day and took out rallies in Dadu, Mehar, Kharipur Nathan Shah, Sehwan, Sann, Manjhad, Kotri and Jamshoro.

The protesters who were demonstrating on a road outside the press club in Dadu briefly stopped the vehicle of senior PPP leader and Sindh Minister for Education Pir Mazharul Haq who was leading a motorcade which was on its way to Hyderabad to attend the party’s public meeting.

Police arrived there immediately and cleared the road for the minister.

NAWABSHAH: Activists of nationalist parties and workers of PPP-SB and PML-F women’s wing demonstrated against the LG law, wearing black armbands and hoisting black flags.

The protesters’ leaders lashed out at PPP and said that Sindh had never suffered such a serious setback over the past 65 years. They said they would not tolerate division of Sindh.

SHIKARPUR: Activists of JUI-F, Jamaat-i-Islami, PPP-SB, AT, PML-N, PML-F, SUP, Sindhi Adabi Sangat, JST, Shikarpur Awami Tehrik, National People’s Party, STP and Jeay Sindh Students Federation took out rallies and held demonstrations at Lakhi-Gate Clock Tower Chowk in protest against the LG law.

MITHI: Carrying aloft black flags, activists of STP, AT, PML-N and JSQM took out a joint rally in the town, which ended in a demonstration at Kashmir Chowk.

The leaders termed the LG law a conspiracy which was aimed at paving the way for division of Sindh and said the party’s evil designs would be foiled.