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HYDERABAD, May 14: A complete strike was observed across the province and reports of ransacking of MQM offices were received from some places on Monday. The strike was in response to call given by the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy (ARD) and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) in protest against killings of innocent people in Karachi.
Except Tharparkar, hometown of Sindh chief minister, and a couple of other towns where the call was almost ignored all big and small towns wore a deserted look with no public transport on the highways and roads.
The protesters turned their ire on the offices of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) in Tando Mohammad Khan, Thatta, Khairpur and Jacobabad as the ARD, MMA and other political parties brought out rallies and processions.
Reports reaching here from Dadu said that police had arrested at least 30 protesters.
Hyderabad observed a complete strike and day of mourning with no reports of any unpleasant incident from any part of the city. All the main bazaars, business establishments and commercial centres remained completely closed in the city.
No demonstration or rally was held as the district nazim had banned gathering of five or more people throughout the district and beefed up security with police.
TANDO MOHAMMAD KHAN: Activists of PPP, STP, PML-N, PTI, ANP and MMA brought out a procession and staged a sit-in on the Phulelli Road. The leaders demanded arrest of the culprits while some angry protesters broke open the lock on the sector office of MQM, ransacked the office and defaced the portraits of MQM chief Altaf Hussain.
MATIARI: People in Matiari and New Saeedabad did not respond to the call for strike while a complete strike was observed in Hala, Nasarpur and Oderolal. Activists of PPP and JUI held a rally in Oderolal.
SANGHAR: A complete strike was observed in Shahdadpur while people in Sanghar town did not give encouraging respond to the call.
Transport was thin on the roads and markets and shopping centres remained closed.
NAWABSHAH: All markets and bazaars remained closed except in the areas which were stronghold of the MQM.
Miscreants resorted to aerial firing and burnt tyres on the Jam Saheb, Maryam and Sakrand roads, smashing windowpanes of some shops at Qazi Ahmed turn. Transport remained off the roads.
PPP leaders accused police of arresting over 10 party workers after raids in different parts of the city. Police also tried to get shops opened in many areas, they said.
Business remained closed in Bandhi, Buchheri, Jam Saheb while shops in Sakrand, Qazi Ahmed and Doulatpur remained open.
The District Bar Association of Nawabshah staged a demonstration in the court premises in protest against forcing the chief justice to return to Islamabad and bloodshed in Karachi.
DADU: A complete strike was observed with main markets and trade centres closed. The district administration had made strict security arrangements in the city.
Khairpur Nathan Shah, Mehar, Johi, Radhan, Phulji, Thariri Mohabbat, Sehwan and Kotri towns also observed strike and political parties in the opposition staged rallies and demonstrations demanding removal of Sindh government and action against MQM.
Police used batons against protesters and arrested PPP taluka president Noor Mohammad Chandio, Liaquat Khoso and 30 others.
A large number of lawyers staged a rally and a demonstration outside the local press club for an hour.
BADIN: All bazaars and business centres remained completely closed in Badin, Talhar, Tando Bago and Golarchi while partial strike was observed in Matli, Kadhan and New Dumbalo.
Activists of Awami Tehrik staged a rally in Khar Wah town of Shaheed Fazil Rahu taluka against the killing of a party worker. They also burnt MQM's flags.
Lawyers hoisted black flags on the rooftops of their offices in protest against lawlessness. The district administration had made strict security arrangements but there were no report of any untoward incident from any part.
MITHI: Tharparkar district did not respond to the call for strike as local buses and Chhakras plied roads as usually but no bus arrived from from Karachi and Hyderabad.
MIRPURKHAS: The city observed a complete strike as all the main markets and shopping centres including Municipal Shopping Centre, M. A. Jinnah Road, Shahi Bazaar, Hilal market, Cloth Market, Sarrafa Bazaar and Grain Market remained closed.
Traffic was thin on roads and petrol pumps and hotels too were closed. The administration had deployed heavy contingent of police at main roundabouts and around the offices of MQM to avert any untoward incident.
Umerkot town also observed strike with all its main shopping centres and bazaars remaining closed.
Reports reaching here said that Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Naukot, Jhuddo, Kot Ghulam Mohammad and other towns of Mirpurkhas and Umerkot districts also remained closed.
Meanwhile, members of District Bar Association (DBA) staged a demonstration in the premises of district and sessions court.
They condemned attack on Aaj TV channel office and demanded that the government should immediately arrest the killers involved in the carnage.
THATTA: A complete strike was observed in Thatta, Gharo, Mirpur Sakro, Gujjo, Mirpur Bathoro, Daro, Laiqpur, Jhoke Sharif, Jati, Chuhar Jamali and adjoining towns. Some miscreants stormed and ransacked the MQM zonal office in Thatta and tore up party flag.
Activists of ARD component parties staged processions and wore black armbands.
Members of DBA Thatta brought out a procession, which merged into three separate processions of PPP, Awami Tehrik and STP. The procession converged at the press club where the protesters staged a sit-in on the National Highway.
KHAIRPUR: A complete strike was observed in the district with all main bazaars and markets closed and no vehicles on the roads.
Activists of ARD and PPP set ablaze tyres on the National Highway while some protesters attacked the unit office of MQM in Bhurgri and Mill Colony and set on fire the furniture. Some also pelted stones on the office of PML.
Police meanwhile arrested three PPP workers.
PPP workers also took out a procession in Pir Jo Goth and staged a demonstration on Mohib Ali Chowk. The protesters also burnt tyres.
Meanwhile, A-section police booked 11 members of ARD and PPP youth wing for blocking the highway, burning tyres and attacking and damaging offices of PML-Q and shops.
NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: Naushahro Feroze, Moro, Kandiaro, Bhirya city, Mithiani, Tharushah, Mohbat Dero, Padidan, Darya Khan Mari, Phul, Darbelo and other towns remained completely closed.
In Moro, activists of PPP, AT, PPP-SB, JSQM and STP staged a demonstration outside the press club. In Tharushah, activists of PPP, STP and SPSF staged a rally.
The lawyers also held a meeting in Naushahro Feroze and condemned the government's attitude towards the chief justice and killing of innocent people in Karachi.
SHIKARPUR: A complete strike was observed in Shikarpur and its adjoining towns. Activists of PPP and JI staged rallies in Shikarpur and Garhi Yasin.
Members of DBA condemned killing of innocent people in Karachi and expressed resentment over misbehaviour with their colleagues at Malir Bar.
