DADU, July 3: Fourteen activists of the Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party, two of them district presidents, and two policemen sustained injuries on Monday when police used tear-gas and batons against a rally the STPP had organised against police.

The rally of more than 50 workers started from the Municipal Park to protest against the Dadu town police for registering cases against STPP activist Saheb Khan Chandio.

When the rally led by STPP Larkana President Gulzar Soomro and Dadu President Ghulam Qadir Leghari reached Achho Hotel, TPO Gul Mohammad Chachar and SHO of Dadu town, Mohammad Ayoub Brohi, arrived there with a heavy police contingent and asked them to stop protest but they refused.

Angered by refusal, the police exchanged hot words with them and then used tear gas and batons. In reaction, protesters hurled stones at the police. The clash left injured Gulzar Ahmed, Ghulam Qadir, Saheb Chandio, Sajan Magsi and ten others besides two policemen, Head Constable Syed Manzoor Shah and Constable Sher Khan.

Ghulam Qadir is stated to be in serious condition.

Police arrested 14 party workers and registered an FIR against 50 others under sections 353, 324 of the Qisas and Diyat Ordinance and sections 147, 148 of the PPC.

Dadu Town SHO Mohammad Ayoub Brohi said that STPP workers, Saheb Chandio and Sajan Magsi, were involved in criminal activities hence they had been put behind bars.

Our Hyderabad Bureau adds: Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party Chairman Dr Qadir Magsi in a statement has condemned use of tear-gas and batons by police against party leaders who were peacefully demonstrating in Dadu.