HYDERABAD: Many Sindh towns remained completely shut while others partially closed on Wednesday in response to Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party’s call for protest against promulgation of presidential ordinance for the establishment of Pakistan Islands Development Authority (PIDA) to control Sindh’s islands.

Partial strike was observed in Hyderabad where STP leader Dr Ahmed Noonari and others staged a demonstration and sit-in on Phuleli Road. Islands could not be separated from the province, said the leaders.

STP chairman Dr Qadir Magsi and other party leaders said that successful strike was a triumph of Sindh. Until and unless Pakistan Peoples Party tabled a resolution in Sindh Assembly on the islands issue people should not accept its arguments or protest, he said.

Strike was also observed in Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Matiari, Hala and New Saeedabad.

BADIN: All markets remained shuttered in Badin, Matli, Tando Bago, Kario Ghanwar, Khoski, Nindo Shahar, Golarchi, Talhar, Rajo Khanani and other small towns in the district in response to STP’s call for protest.

In Badin, STP workers marched on main thoroughfares while raising slogans against the centre’s move to take over islands in complete disregard of provincial and environmental laws and rights of local fishermen.

They said the takeover violated provincial autonomy and warned Sindhis would resist the centre’s move to occupy islands.

THATTA: Thatta and Sujawal districts positively responded to STP’s call for protest against the presidential ordinance.

All shopping centres, filling stations, factories and vendors’ shops were shuttered and traffic remained thin on roads while the party activists marched on roads, waving party flags and wearing black armbands.

MITHI: Partial strike was observed in Mithi, Chelhar, Kaloi, Santoro, Naukot and other towns of Tharparkar district in response to STP’s call for protest against the ordinance. The party workers took out rallies to denounce the centre’s move.

The workers asked the PPP leadership to clarify its position on the issue and immediately table a resolution in Sindh Assembly to reject PIDA.

SUKKUR: Complete shutdown was observed in Jacobabad where all shops remained shuttered and STP workers took out a rally and staged a sit-in in protest against the centre’s move.

The STP leaders said the centre planned to take over Sindh’s islands and coast through an “unconstitutional” move which was highly condemnable.

They demanded immediate withdrawal of the ordinance and warned of widening their protest if it was not done immediately.

STP activists also took out a rally in Tangwani town of Kandhkot-Kashmore district against the ordinance.

NAWABSHAH: Complete shutdown was observed in the city where all markets remained closed while STP activists held a demonstration against Rangers personnel for allegedly raiding their office.

The protesters’ leaders said that people of Sindh would never allow anyone to take over their islands. Sindh’s resources were property of local people and no Sindhi would allow illegal possession of their land, they said.

DADU: STP activists observed strike and took out rallies in Dadu, Kotri, Sehwan, Sita Road town, Mehar and Khairpur Nathan Shah in protest against the presidential ordinance. They demanded immediate abrogation of the ordinance.

SHIKARPUR: Markets remained partially shuttered in Shikarpur and adjoining towns in response to STP call for protest.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2020