LARKANA, Aug 16: Protest demonstrations and rallies were held in almost all cities and towns of the interior of Sindh on Friday by supporters of several nationalist parties to condemn the killing of Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) and Jeay Sindh Tehrik (JST) activists in Karachi and Kotri a day earlier.

A JSMM central leader, Zamin Shah, and two JST activists, Yamin Chachar and Umaid Ali Sunbal, were killed in what was claimed to be an encounter with police in Madhu Goth, located within Safari Park, in Karachi.

Their bodies were taken to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre on Thursday evening after the five-hour-long alleged encounter was over and both the nationalist parties described it as ‘extrajudicial killing’.

A DSP and an ASI were also killed while several other police personnel were wounded in the police action. In Kotri, another JSMM central leader, Afzal Panhwar, were killed in a shootout with police after an armed attack on the Bahauddin Zakaria Express allegedly by a group of JSMM activists. A 12-year-old boy was killed in the attack.

Both the nationalist parties had given a Sindh-wide strike call for Friday against the killing of their activists.

Although major trade, business and commercial concerns observe Friday as the weekly holiday in the interior of Sindh, small businesses, markets, grocery shops etc remain open.

In response to the strike call, no markets and shops were opened in many cities and towns while vehicular traffic remained off the road.

The strike call received a mixed response in Hyderabad district as a complete shutdown was observed in Tando Mohammad Khan but life in Hyderabad city, Tando Allahyar and Matiari remained unaffected.

In Tando Mohammad Khan, a protest demonstration was led by JST district president Abdul Khaliq Khaskheli and general secretary Zahid Jiskani. Another demonstration was staged by Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz supporters led by their district chief Munir Nizamani.

The protesters condemned police actions in Karachi and Hyderabad alleging that police had murdered them in cold blood. They said their party workers were not criminals.

JST activists brought out a rally in Hala to protest against killing of their colleagues.

In Hyderabad, life and routine activities remained normal but shops in Qasimabad did not open in the morning. Similar was the situation in Matiari.

Vehicular traffic remained thin and no classes were held in three universities as point buses did not ply on their designated routes.

Larkana and its adjoining areas remained closed in protest against the alleged extra-judicial killings. Markets and shops, as well as fuel stations, in most areas stayed shut.

Police and Rangers personnel patrolled sensitive areas of the district to maintain law and order but no untoward incident was reported from any part of the district.

JSMM activists led by Aamir Soho and Hamzo Chandio held a demonstration outside Jinnah Bagh to condemn the killings of their comrades in Karachi and Hyderabad.

They claimed that the Market police in Larkana city arrested six workers — Muneer Jatoi, Gabi Jatoi, Murtaza Shaikh, Aamir Jatoi, Hafeez Leghari and Rustam Sandano — and demanded their immediate release.

The strike call also received a positive response in Dadu and Jamshoro districts as a complete shutdown was observed in Dadu, Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Juhi, Bhan, Sehwan, Manjhand, Sann, Jamshoro and Kotri.

While Shahi Bazaar, Rai Bazaar, Station Road and other shopping areas wore a deserted look, vehicular traffic on Dadu-Hyderabad, Dadu-Moro and Dadu-Larkana arteries remained off the road.

Stringent security was maintained by the police and Rangers to meet any eventuality.

The situation in Kotri remained tense since Thursday evening and mourning was observed by JSMM supporters when the body of Afzal Panhwar was brought to Khalid Panhwar village. JSMM activists first brought the body to a place close to Dadu Press Club and paid homage to their slain leader. They then transported it to Sann in a procession for burial near the graves of other ‘martyred’ party leaders.

The funeral was attended by JSMM vice chairman Dr Zain Bhutto, finance secretary Zulfikar Jamali, coordination secretary Shabbir Mallah, JSSF chairman Hafeez Pirzada, JSQM vice chairman Akash Mallah and JST vice chairman Abdul Fatah Channa.

All shops and commercial areas in Mirpur Mathelo were closed following incidents of firing at different places by activists of some nationalist parties.

Reports from the town suggested that most markets, bazaars and shops were already closed due to weekly holiday but a number of others were opened as per the daily routine. However, protesting groups of activists fired into the air to make people pull down shutters.

Shahi Bazaar, Old Market, Sarafa Bazaar, City Road, Doctors Area and other shopping malls wore a deserted look till the evening.

In Daharki town of Ghotki district, a complete strike was observed as shops in Zafar Bazaar, Qureshi Bazaar, Mehran Market, Bhutta Market and other commercial and shopping areas did not open in the morning.

Naushahro Feroze also stayed completely shut in response to the strike call. A protest demonstration was also held by JST workers to condemn the killing of the four activists.

A strike was also observed Moro, Padidan, Khanwahan and Mehrabpur towns.

Protesters led by Ashraf Leghari and Khadim Hussain took out a rally and staged a demonstration outside Moro Media Centre to condemned the police actions against their party colleagues in Karachi and Hyderabad.

They alleged that the Sindh government was fully involved in killings. They demanded an investigation into the shootouts and immediate arrest of the killers.

Meanwhile, Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT) president Ayaz Latif Palijo, in a statement issued from they party’s headquarters in Hyderabad, also condemned the police actions and urged the chief justice of the Sindh High Court to take suo motu notice of the ‘extrajudicial killings’.

He claimed that police were following the agenda of international powers that wanted destabilisation in Pakistan. He argued that the Sindhi youths killed by police on Thursday should have been arrested and produced before courts if they were found involved in any criminal activity. He noted that the Karachi police raided Madhu village and gunned down the youths.