NAWABSHAH: Enraged activists of Pakistan Peoples Party and its sister organisations took to the streets across Sindh on Monday after the news about the party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari’s arrest in a money laundering case was flashed on TV channels.

They held demonstrations and sit-ins and burnt tyres on roads to block traffic while raising slogans against Pakis­tan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Prime Minister Imran Khan and the National Accountability Bureau.

In Nawabshah, charged workers forced shopkeepers to pull down shutters after which almost all main markets were closed. Later, MPA Ghulam Qadir Chandio and others led a demonstration and termed the arrest political victimisation.

Activists of Peoples Youth Organisation and Sindh Peoples Students Federa­tion also staged a demonstration outside local press club and burnt tyres on the road. Similar protests were staged in Qazi Ahmed, Sakrand, Daur and other towns.

LARKANA: Wearing black armbands, waving placards and party flags and raising slogans against PTI-led government and NAB, PPP workers took to the streets in the hometown of slain PPP chairperson Ben­azir Bhutto in protest against the arrest of party co-chairman.

They staged sit-in and burnt tyres on roads before forcing shopkeepers to pull down shutters in the presence of police. Rangers’ personnel also aided police in maintaining law and order.

Local party leaders Abdul Fatah Bhutto, Khair Mohammad Shaikh and others led the protest. They condemned the arrest and called it political victimisation. Similar protests were held in Naudero, Qambar and Shahdadkot towns.

SUKKUR: PPP workers staged a demonstration in front of Sukkur Press Club in protest against Mr Zard­ari’s arrest and burnt tyres on the National Highway at Ali Wahan locality near Rohri.

In Kandhkot, Kashmore, Jacobabad, Ghotki and Tang­wani towns, PPP workers took out rallies, held demonstrations and sit-ins outside their respective press clubs to express their anger at the arrest of their leader.

The protesters alleged that Imran Khan had pulled the strings to get Mr Zardari arrested in order to divert attention away from his “failures”.

HYDERABAD: PPP activists took to the streets and burnt tyres on roads in the city before bringing out a rally from the party’s district office which terminated outside Radio Pakistan.

PPP Sindh’s information secretary Aajiz Dhamra and local party leaders urged workers to remain calm in line with party leadership’s directive and said a ‘black day’ would be observed in a peaceful manner on Tuesday.

KHAIRPUR: PPP activists torched tyres on Katchehry Road and staged a demonstration outside the press club.

The protesters termed Mr Zardari’s arrest an attack on democracy and said that instead of providing relief to people the government had indulged in vindictive activities.

They demanded immediate release of Mr Zardari and warned they would continue the protest till their leader was freed.

DADU: PPP activists took out a rally and staged a demonstration outside the press club to register protest against the arrest of party co-chairman.

Local party leaders deman­ded immediate rele­ase of their leader. Similar protests were held in Seh­wan, Bhan Syedabad, Johi and Mehar towns.

THATTA: PPP activists took out processions in Thatta, Sujawal, Makli, Gharo, Dhabeji and other towns in the two districts to register protest against the arrest of party co-chairman.

MITHI: PPP lawmakers, leaders and workers condemned the arrest of Mr Zardari and termed it the worst form of political victimisation by “selected” rulers.

PPP MNA Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, MPA Qasim Siraj Soomro, Fakeer Sher Mohammad Bilalani, Arbab Lutfullah, Nandlal Malhi, Shusheel Malani and others said in their separate statements that the arrest was highly condemnable.

MIRPURKHAS: PPP lea­ders and workers took out a rally as some charged activists resorted to heavy aerial firing in the presence of police forcing shopkeepers to pull down shutters in the town.

The protesters burnt tyres on roads and then gathered at local press club where they held a demonstration, demanding immediate release of Mr Zardari.

NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: PPP activists held a demonstration outside local press club in protest against the arrest of their leader and said that PPP would never be afraid of arrests.

Similar protests were held in Moro, Kandiaro and other towns.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2019