HYDERABAD: The QAT call for a Sindh-wide strike on Thursday against an MQM statement about a separate province for Moharis drew a mixed response in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur and Nawabshah.
In Hyderabad city, some areas including Chandni, Gul Centre, Gari Khata and Circular Building were closed but most other areas remained unaffected by the protest call.
Markets, bazaars, commercial areas, shops and fuel stations in Qasimabad and rural Hyderabad stayed shut and vehicular traffic off the road.
Protesters put up barricades and burning tyres on roads at Haider Chowk, Naseem Nagar Chowk and other places to disrupt vehicular traffic but police and Rangers brought the situation under control.
QAT senior vice president Abdul Qadir Rantho, general secretary Anwer Soomro and Sindhyani Tehreek leader Husna Rahujo led protest demonstrations held at various places.
A complete strike was observed in Tando Mohammad Khan and Tando Allahyar where QAT and nationalist organisations took out rallies to condemn moves to divide Sindh.
Matiari district remained unaffected by the strike call.
Protest demonstrations were, however, held in different parts of the district and there were reports of nationalist activists disrupting road and rail traffic at some places.
SUKKUR: Life in Sukkur city remained normal as all routine activities started in the morning as usual.
A partial strike was, however, observed in other parts of Sukkur district.
MIRPURKHAS: A partial strike was observed in Mirpurkhas district although the trade and business activities did not start at the usual time i.e. early in the morning.
In Mirpurkhas city, shops started opening after 9am and some protesters tried to force shopkeepers pull down the shutters.
However, police and Rangers personnel intervened to restore law and order.
In Juhddo, Digri, Sindhri, Khipro and some other towns, a strike was observed till afternoon, when shops and fuel stations started reopening.
NAWABSHAH: A partial shutdown was observed in Nawabshah city and other parts of Shaheed Benazirabad district in response to the QAT call for a province-wide strike on Thursday.
While all the main markets and bazaars, including Sarafa Bazaar, Sakrand Road, Kutchehry Road, Masjid Road, Mohni Bazaar, Lal Building Road and Mobile Market remained closed, shops and fuel stations on Sakrand Road and Qazi Ahmed Road, as well as in Sakrand town, Manuabad, Essar Pura and some other areas were opened
throughout the day.
Private schools in Nawabshah had announced a closure for the day for security reasons.
A complete strike was, however, observed in Qazi Ahmed, Daur and Daulatpur.
Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2014
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