HYDERABAD: Many towns in the province remained shut on Thursday in response to Sindh Taraqqi-pasand Party’s call for strike in protest against murder of the party’s vice chairman Altaf Jiskani in Tando Allahyar a day before.

In Qasimabad area of Hyderabad, shops remained shuttered in markets and shopping centres while no strike was observed in areas of city centre and Latifabad.

A complete strike was observed in Tando Mohammad Khan and Tando Allahyar towns but Matiari did not respond to the strike call. Tando Mohammad Khan and Tando Allahyar towns remained completely shut while a rally was taken out in Tando Mohammad Khan.

Meanwhile, the slain nationalist leader was laid to rest in Lal Faqir Bahrani village and STP chairman Dr Qadir Magsi, Sindh United Party secretary general Zain Shah, Awami Workers Party leader Dr Bakhshal Thalho, Jam Abdul Fatah Samejo, Hoat Khan Gadehi, Qadir Channa, JSQM-B leader Dr Niaz Kalani, local PPP leader Maula Bux Thebo, Aijaz Khan Pitafi and large number of relatives, friends and STP activists took part in the last rites.

Zeeshan Jiskani, brother of late Altaf, has lodged a case at A-Section police station against Aslam Rind, Bholu Khanzada, Zamir Rind, Mashooq Rind and two unidentified persons, accusing them of being involved in the murder but police had not yet made any arrests.

Later, Dr Magsi told journalists that killers could be traced with the help of modern technology and geofencing. Jiskani was killed under a conspiracy and now it was up to police to arrest the killers, he said.

He gave an ultimatum of 72 hours to police to arrest Jiskani’s killers, according to a press release.

SUKKUR: A complete shutdown was observed in Thull, Jacobabad and Kandhkot towns where STP activists also took out protest rallies to condemn murder of their leader.

In Jacobabad, the party activists staged a rally which marched on different roads before reaching press club where the protesters held a sit-in and burnt tyres.

In Thull town, STP activists led by Sarwan Lashari, Arz Sindhi and others took out a rally which was also joined by activists of other nationalist parties.

Similarly, a complete shutdown was observed in Kandhkot during which all trade and business centres remained closed and a rally was taken out from Clock Tower to press club.

The local party leaders demanded immediate arrest of their leader’s killers.

MIRPURKHAS: A complete strike was observed in Jhuddo and a partial strike was witnessed in Digri town in response to STP’s call for protest over the leader’s murder.

Digri town was partially shut while administration had tightened security and stepped up patrolling in the town. On Wednesday night, unknown persons resorted to heavy firing in the air to scare shopkeepers into keeping their shops shut the following day.

Police have lodged a case under Anti-Terrorism Act against 14 persons for spreading fear in the town.

STP leader Mir Younus Talpur and others held a demonstration at Muhammadi Chowk and said while speaking to protesters that Jiskani’s murder was part of a sinister conspiracy. The government should immediately arrest the culprits, he said.

He said the STP was a party of martyrs and the late Jiskani was a voice of the poor whom the terrorists had tried to silence.

In Jhuddo, a complete strike was observed as all markets and bazaars remained shut while police stepped up patrolling in the town and frisked people at all entry and exit points.

BADIN: A complete shutdown was observed in Badin and several towns of the district where all shops and markets were shuttered in response to STP’s call for protest against the leader’s murder.

The party activists took out rallies in Badin, Golarchi, Kario Ganwhar, Matli, Khoski, Talhar and Tando Ghulam Ali towns.

In Badin, STP leaders Hakeem Umrani, Ghulam Qadir Muradani and others staged a demonstration outside local press club. They condemned the nationalist leader’s murder and said that Sindh had lost an asset and a brave leader.

They said that some elements intended to discourage the party’s ongoing struggle against injustices with people of Sindh but the party leaders and workers would remain undeterred and continue the struggle despite all odds.

They demanded immediate arrest of their leader’s murderer.

MITHI: A partial shutdown was observed in Mithi, Islamkot and Chelhar for half a day in response to STP and other parties’ call for strike against the STP leader’s murder.

The call for shutdown received mixed response from people in Nagarparkar, Diplo, Kaloi, Chhachhro and several other towns of Tharparkar.

The STP workers staged demonstrations in several towns to register protest against the murder of their leader and demanded immediate arrest of all the suspects involved in the killing.

The party leaders termed Jiskani’s murder part of a wider conspiracy against Sindh and vowed to foil all such conspiracies against the motherland.

Published in Dawn, November 20th, 2020