KARACHI, July 11: As many as 2,816 activities of agitation including hunger strikes, demonstrations, rallies, sit-in and strikes took place across the province from Jan 1 to July 5 this year showing that there was no let up to the problems, which are the main cause of social unrest among the people of Sindh.

According to the break-up given in a report compiled by Sindh Police Department, 720 incidents of hunger strikes were registered in three regions of the province. Of them 223 were staged in Karachi, 287 in Hyderabad and 210 in Sukkur. As many as 1,123 demonstrations were held of which 390, 489 and 244 were registered in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur respectively.

The processions/rallies numbered 757 that include 128, 334 and 295 respectively in Karachi, Hyderabad and Suukur. The roads were blocked 103 times in Sindh. According to statistics, 69 incidents of staging sit-in were recorded of which eight were staged in Karachi, 47 in Hyderabad and 14 in Sukkur.

Out of total 17 strikes, two were observed in Karachi, nine in Hyderabad and six in Sukkur region. Similarly, 17 pen-down strikes were observed in the province with two, five and 10 recorded incidents in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur regions respectively. The number of incidents wearing black armbands was 10.

The average shows that 15.14 activities of agitation took place in a day and 460.40 per month.

Of the total, 245 protests were observed against killings and kidnappings; 196 against water shortage; 159 for payment of salaries and dues;129 against power failures; 120 against Thal Canal and Kalabagh Dam; 100 against demolition of Sindhi villages; 94 for reinstatement of workers; 60 by teachers/students and 29 against nazims and councillors.—PPI