SUKKUR, Feb 25: Activists of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) held a demonstration outside the press club on Saturday in protest against arrest of ‘innocent people’ by police following violent incidents in Sukkur sparked by desecration of the Holy Quran.

Activists led by Maulana Abdul Haq Mahar and Maulana Ellahi Bux Tanwari staged a protest demonstration for an hour stopping the flow of traffic.

They termed the desecration of the Holy Quran a conspiracy and said the incident was aimed at disturbing peace of the city.

Linking desecration of the Holy Quran in Sukkur with publication of blasphemous cartoons, they termed it an international conspiracy against Muslims.

They said that following the incident of desecration of the Holy Quran, groups of enraged people set ablaze churches but police despite information reached after about three hours and arrested innocent people while the actual culprits managed to escape.

They demanded that high police officials should release innocent people and arrest the actual culprits.

Protest: Activists of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz held a demonstration outside the press club on Saturday in protest against arrest of secretary general of the party, Safdar Sarki.

Speaking on the occasion, JSQM leader Abdul Rehman Jatoi said that the government had arrested Mr Sarki without any case and he was being tortured.

He said that the arrest had not been declared officially and life of Mr Sarki was in danger.

He demanded that the government should release Safdar Sarki immediately otherwise strong protest movement would be launched in Sindh.

He said strike would be observed in Sukkur and the government would be responsible for the consequences.

TAX: Shopkeepers of the Agha Qadir Dad Agriculture Market have condemned imposition of agriculture tax over incoming products by the Sukkur taluka council.

A meeting under chairmanship of Muneer Shaikh was held in the city on Saturday in which new tax was termed unjustified.

Officials of the taluka council told that agriculture tax of Rs2 to Rs25 had been imposed upon incoming products and the amount thus collected would be used for development works of the market including roads, electricity and sewerage.