LARKANA, Jan 4: Police held 21 activists of Sindh National Front and put a Pakistan People’s Party-Shaheed Bhutto leader under house arrest as the activists of the parties held demonstrations across the province and tried to force markets to close on a call for strike in protest against Mumtaz Bhutto’s arrest.

The strike was partial in Larkana, despite firing by some unidentified people near the Pakistan Chowk in what appeared to be an attempt to force shopkeepers to close their shops.

Police picked up one Hosh Muhammed Bhutto who was allegedly armed with a pistol near Jiles Bazaar on charges of threatening shopkeepers to close business. His associate escaped, reports said.

Sources in the SNF said that police had arrested Comrade Muzaffar Sahto, Hoat Khan Mirali, Jawed Abro, Akbar Bhutto and Babar Soalngi.

A partial strike was observed in Qambar, Warah and Dokri towns while Shahdadkot did not respond to the call.

In Ratodero, a large number of people carrying batons and raising slogans marched on the main roads of the town and blocked the Indus Highway.

When Rangers and police asked the protesters to disperse, they pelted them with stones, slightly injuring Major Ahmed Mukhtar.

No case was registered against anyone nor anyone was arrested.

The party’s media cell in-charge claimed in a statement that the strike was successful and main trade centres in Larkana, Naudero, Ratodero, Dokri, Qambar, Daharki, Tando Adam and other towns of the upper Sindh remained shut and transport was thin on roads.

Police and Rangers arrested many activists, including Habibullah Aamro, Hassan Aamro, Nisar Khoso, Naeem Hulio, Habib Bhutto, Zawar Ghulam Rasool Bhibhro, Allah Wadhayo Siyal, Abdul Ghafoor Kehar, Hamid Ali Rasheed Bhutto, Shah Ali Lashari, Ali Mohammed Lashari, Ghulam Qambar Bohar, Muzaffar Charran and others, he said.

He said that police had put under house arrest the president of the Sindh chapter of PPP-SB Meenhon Khan Rind in Nawabshah.

In Hyderabad, demonstrations were held against the arrest of SNF chief and PPP-SB leader Younus Bhan and strike was observed in Qasimabad taluka.

The activists of PPP-SB and its youth and students’ wings, held a demonstration in Qasimabad while in Tando Mohammad Khan, PPP-SB workers led by Pir Ghulam Nabi Jan Sirhindi held a demonstration outside the press club.

Reports said that police used batons to break up the protest and arrested three activists including Mr Sirhindi.

In Badin and Jacobabad, the call for strike failed to elicit any response from traders and general public though SNF workers did hold a demonstration in Badin.

Shopkeepers in Jacobabad closed shops for just an hour after some activists of PPP-SB threatened them but all markets were opened again at 1pm.

The Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party spokesman Nandlal Mahli condemned arrests of SNF leaders and using batons against protesters. Protest was democratic right of every citizen and its violation would not be tolerated, he said.