HYDERABAD, Aug 12: The situation outside the Hyderabad Press Club became tense here on Tuesday after police uprooted a tent pitched by leaders and activists of the anti-Greater Thal Canal Committee to stage hunger strike against the project.

Hot words were exchanged between the supporters of the committee and the police who was of the view that the political activists could not pitch tents on roads without the permission of the district government.

The activists raised slogans against the rulers and the police and blocked the road in front of the press club by staging a sit-in there.

Later, the AGTCC leaders with scores of their supporters including women observed a token hunger strike on the main road.

The leaders included Awami Tehrik chief Rasool Bux Palijo, Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party president Dr Qadir Magsi, People’s Party Parliamentarian deputy general secretary, Maula Bux Chandio, Afzal Gujjar of the Pakistan Muslim League (N), Abdul Waheed Qureshi of the Jamaat Islami, Taj Mohammad Nahyoon of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam and Mohammad Ayub Shar of the Sindh National Front.

MPAs Syed Ali Nawaz Shah, Farheen Mughal, Zahid Bhurgari and Abdur Rehman Rajput and scholar Mohammad Ibrahim Joyo also joined the protest.

Talking to journalists, Mr Palijo condemned the police action, saying that the people of Sindh had launched a peaceful struggle against the canal and dam projects but the police had resorted to highhandedness.

He, however, said that the struggle would continue until it achieved its target.

Dr Magsi said that the government was trying to create a law and order situation to sabotage the anti-Thal canal movement launched two months back.

Mr Chandio warned that the construction of the controversial Thal canal and Kalabagh dam could harm the national integrity.