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HYDERABAD, Oct 15: Complete strike was observed in the three sub- divisions of the city — Hyderabad, Latifabad and Qasimabad and in other towns of the district here on Monday in protest against the American and British air strikes on Afghanistan and the handing over of Jacobabad airport to the American forces.
The strike was observed on the call of “Pak-Afghanistan Defence Council”, a conglomerate of 35 religious parties and groups. All the shops, business and commercial centres in Hirabad, Tilak Incline, Phuleli, Paretabad, Pucca Qila, Shahi Bazar, Chhoti Ghitti, Sarrafa Bazar, Resham Bazar, Electronics Market, Station Road, Cantonment Shopping Centre, Gul Centre, District Council Shopping Centre, all units of Latifabad and different settlements in Qasimabad remained completely closed.
Youngsters burnt tyres on the main roads in different localities. The traffic on the roads remained negligible. However, some rickshaws were seen on the roads in safe localities of cantonment areas. Public conveyance remained off the roads. In absence of public transport, the attendance in offices and schools also remained thin.
Private buses plying between Hyderabad and interior Sindh also remained off the road.
A vehicle of Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO), Sarfaraz Sub-Division, was torched at Allah Wala Chowk, Hirabad, by some miscreants early morning on Monday. The front portion of the vehicle was damaged. Market police is reported to have arrested an activist on charges of torching the vehicle. His identity, however, could not be ascertained.
Police reportedly baton charged a crowd in front of the Zeal Pak Cement factory on Hyderabad-Tando Mohammad Khan road.
The protesters told Dawn that police had also resorted to direct firing on the crowd. However, no one was injured. The protesters also alleged that some bullets had hit the gate of the Model High School of the factory. However, no bullet marks could be seen on the school gate.
SITE DSP Zulfiqar refuted the allegations of the protesters and claimed that police had neither resorted to baton charge nor to firing.
He said that police had been deployed on the road as the residents of Zeal Pak Cement factory colony belonging to different religious parties had gathered there to block the road.
RALLY: A large number of activists belonging to different religious parties staged a two-hour demonstration and completely blocked Miran Mohammad Shah road (press club road) in protest against attacks on Afghanistan by America and the UK.
The protesters raised slogans against President Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair and in favour of Mullah Mohammad Umer and Osama bin Laden.
Addressing the rally, the leaders of JUI, Jamaat-i-Islami, Hizbul Mujahideen, SSP, Lashkar-i-Taiba, Jaish-i-Muhammad and PML(N) lashed out at the Pakistani rulers for providing bases to American forces.
Our Thatta Correspondent adds: Complete strike was observed in Thatta, Sujawal, Mirpur Bathoro, Daro and almost all the coastal towns of the district as a mark of protest against US air strikes on Afghanistan on Monday.
A big procession was taken out in Sujawal jointly by JUI, JI, Sipah-i-Sahaba and others led by Sindh JUI deputy chief Moulana Abdul Ghafoor Qasmi.
It marched through the main thoroughfares of the town and halted at Park Chowk where Akram Memon, Hafiz Riaz, Niaz Memon and others said the American nefarious designs have been exposed before the world and the people globally have started realizing that America by focusing on Osama Bin Laden wanted to capture the Afghan land so as to get hold of the resources of the subcontinent as well as of the Russian states, as it did after the Gulf war.
The processionists terminated peacefully.
Our Mithi Correspondent adds: A complete shutter down strike was observed here on Monday. A protest rally was also taken out by the activists and workers of JUI and JI, who were carrying banners and placards, inscribed with the words, “Americi foujyoon ka kabaristan Afghanistan” etc.
Addressing the rally, Moulana Taj Muhammad, Sikandar and Abdul Qayoom condemned US bombardment on Afghanistan and warned the government not to extend any support to America.
Our Sanghar Correspondent adds: Complete strike was observed in Tando Adam, Shahdadpur and Khipro. All shops, business centres and markets remained closed on the call of religious parties against US attacks on Afghanistan.
In Shahdadpur a rally was organized by religious parties, led by Qari Muhammad Yousuf and Moulana Akhtar Rizvi of Sunni Tahreek.
The protesters were carrying placards and were raising slogans against President General Pervez Musharraf and US President George W. Bush.
The rally started from Hala Chowk and passing through main roads terminated at local press club.
A similar rally was also organized at Tando Adam. However there was no strike at the district headquarters town, Sanghar.
Here, all the shops remained open and the people did not pay much heed to the strike call by religious parties.
