ISLAMABAD: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday called for a countrywide strike tomorrow (Sunday) to protest the killing of Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro, the Secretary General for JUI-F's Sindh chapter.

Addressing a news conference, the JUI-F chief said it was the responsibility of the government to protect its citizens, a duty which it had failed to do.

The JUI-F chief directed party workers to take to streets tomorrow and hold protests but urged them to remain peaceful in the process.

“All the major roads of the country will be blocked tomorrow in protest against the killing,” Fazl said, condemning the incident and demanding the immediate arrest of those behind the murder.

Soomro was shot dead in Sukkur in an early morning attack on Saturday. The attack took place when Soomro was leaving a mosque attached to a madrassah in Sukkur after offering Fajr prayers.

Armed men entered the area and opened fire at him resulting in his death.

Soomro, who held important positions in his party, hailed from Sindh's Larkana region. He also represented JUI-F in the Senate from 2006-2012 and was attacked at least six times prior to Saturday's fatal one. He leaves behind a widow, six sons and three daughters.