KHAIRPUR, Aug 17 As the news of Allama Ali Sher Hyderi's killing spread, the situation turned tense throughout Sindh.

A complete strike was observed in the Khairpur city on Monday and main bazaars, markets and small cabins remained closed while public transport remained off the road.

Followers of Allama Ali Sher Hyderi took to the streets on vehicles, in protest.

An exchange of fire also took place between two rival groups at Chandia Morr on Monday, but no injuries were reported.

Heavy contingents of police and Rangers were patrolling in the city. Strict security arrangements were made on main intersections and along roads of Nau Goth.

Hundreds of angry protesters staged a demonstration on railway tracks near Luqman Railway Phatak, suspending railway traffic from morning till 2pm. Later, Rangers and police cleared the railway track.

Khairpur DPO Pir Mohammad Shah told reporters that the incident had taken place over an old enmity. Private and government educational institutions also remained closed and the point-buses of Shah Abdul Latif University did not ply on their routes.

Strike was also observed in Priyaloi, Therhi, Pir Jo Goth and some other towns of district Khairpur.

In Hyderabad, over a dozen activists of the banned outfit were picked up by police for creating a law and order situation in the city in the wake of the killing of Allama Sher Ali Hyderi in Khairpur.

Harassment also prevailed in some pockets of the city as miscreants forced shopkeepers to close their business. They also resorted to aerial firing to create panic.

Students who had gone to schools were returned as managements did not hold regular classes. Parents started reaching schools to pick their children soon after the incidents of firing in the city.

Traffic remained off the road, but business activities remained normal in the second half of the day.

Latifabad police arrested five persons Rashid, Abdullah, Abdul Manan, Abdul Rehman and Danish. Hali Road police picked up Yasin, Younus and Mohammad Siddique. They were, however, released after submission of personal bonds.

Miscreants forced closure of shops in Khai Road, Tilak incline, Gharibabad, Pathan colony, Hirabad, Hali Road and Hyder chowk area.

In Sanghar, shutters were pulled down in Tando Adam and Shahdadpur.

A protest procession was also taken out from M. A.Jinnah road to the press club at Tando Adam.

A shutter-down strike was observed in Naushahro Feroze, Padidan and Darya Khan Mari.

The trains were stopped at Rohri, Pano Aqil and Nawabshah stations and a heavy contingent of railway police from Padidan left for Khairpur to help control the situation.

In Nawabshah, a partial strike was observed whereas police arrested at 10 activists of the banned religious organisation for making announcements through mosques.

Shops in Liaquat Market, Mohani bazaar, Sarafa market, Lal building, Masjid road remained closed, however hospital road and parts of katchehry road remained opened.

Nawabshah police arrested Moulana Hanif Usmani, Abdul Raheem, Irfan Ahmed, Umer Khoso, Fareed Mugheri, Sultan Brohi and Ateeq Malik.

A heavy contingency of police was deployed at all main places of city to avoid any untoward incident.

Commuters travelling to upcountry by trains also faced difficulties as Shalimar Express remained stationed at Nawabshah, Awami at Mehrabpur, Hazara at Ranipur and Shah Rukn-e-Alam Express at Gambat, Hazara Express. They waited for hours for the clearance from Khairpur railway authorities.

In Sukkur, complete and partial shutter down strikes were observed throughout upper Sindh, including Sukkur, Rohri, Salehpat, Ali Wahan, Pano Akil, Ghotki, Khanpur Mahar, Thull, Kandhkot, Shikarpur and other cities and towns.

In Sukkur, all the main bazaars and business centres were opened as usual in the morning, but just after half an hour, a mob carrying wooden sticks and pieces of rocks appeared on the scene and forced the shopkeepers to close their business, after which almost all the business centres were closed.

But, no untoward incident took place.

Main bazaars and business centres in Rohri, Salehpat, Ali Wahan, Pano Akil, Ghotki, Khanpur Mahar, Thull, Kandhkot and other cities and towns remained closed throughout the day. No strike was observed in Jacobabad. Though a group of people armed with wooden sticks tried to force the shopkeepers to close their business, police arrested them. However, they were released in the evening.

In Lakhi Ghulam Shah, some 15 kilometers from Sukkur, an angry mob gathered at Sukkur-Shikarpur road, burnt tyres and blocked the road.

Partial strike was observed in Shikarpur city and other parts of the district. Main bazaars of the city remained closed. Supporters of Allama Hyderi staged demonstrations at Shikarpur-Sukkur road near Lakhi, Jahan Khan and Dreha villages and burnt tyres on road. Vehicular traffic remained suspended for two hours.

In Mirpurkhas, a complete strike was observed. In the morning some armed persons of a religious party marched in the city and forced shopkeepers to close their shutters. They also manhandled some shopkeepers. Protesters carrying sticks ransacked some shops and burnt tyres at the main roads.

Petrol pump and CNG filling stations remained closed. Traffic remained normal. Heavy police contingents were deployed at main roads, chowks, mosques, Imam Bargahs. Strike was also observed in Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Jhuddo, Naukot and Kot Ghulam Mohammad.