LARKANA, Jan 7: A complete strike was observed in Qambar and hundreds of people marched on main roads of the town here on Friday, demanding arrest of police officers allegedly involved in the killing of four protesting residents.

The Citizens' Action Committee had given the strike call. Policemen remained at the police station during the strike. The demonstrators, led by committee leaders Bhaoo Dur Mohammad Buriro, Deedar Wadho and Nazeer Ahmad Tunio, carried black flags and wore black armbands.

They chanted slogans against police. Labourers and activists of the Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party also joined the protest. The protesters staged a sit-in at the Tower Chowk, blocking all routes to Shahdadkot, Larkana and Wagan.

Speaking on the occasion, the action committee leaders criticized the government for not ensuring early completion of the inquiry into the matter. They apprehended that like inquiries into Mir Murtaza Bhutto case and other such cases, the Qambar inquiry would meet the same fate and justice would not be ensured to heirs of the four people killed on Dec 24.

They asked residents of Shahdadkot to stop opposing restoration of Qambar's district status. They said they would continue the protest till the arrest of the accused policemen.

They demanded that district status of Qambar should be restored. They also demanded arrest of the DPO and registration of an FIR against him. Meanwhile, a meeting of different political parties was also held in Warah in this regard on Friday.

Representatives of the Pakistan People's Party-SB, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sindh National Front, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Pakistan Muslim League and the STPP attended the meeting besides nazims of union councils of Warah, Lalorounk, Miandad Chinjni, Gaji Khuhawar and Wagan and four naib nazims.

Warah Coordination Committee secretary Hareef Chandio said the committee had also demanded that Qambar should be given the status of district, police officers involved in the killing of the four people be arrested and compensation be paid to heirs of the deceased.

It also called for withdrawing an FIR registered at the Qambar police station against Qambar Taluka Nazim Sardar Khan Chandio and 1,200 others. The Larkana Khaksar Tehrik also demanded the arrest of the killers.