LARKANA, Jan 13: On the call of the District Forum, a complete shutter-down strike was observed in Shahdadkot on Thursday to press the Sindh government not to reverse its decision of making Shahdadkot a district , and to demand that the town be made district headquarters instead of Qambar.

Around 75 rice mills and trade centres remained closed, while transport also remained off the road. Moreover, protesters blocked all entry points and did not allow traffic to enter the town.

Hundreds of people, carrying banners and placards, chanted slogans and burnt tyres on various roundabouts as they marched through main thoroughfares of the town to assemble at the Kotoo-Motoo Chowk.

Speaking to the protesters, District Forum chairman Atta Mohamed Siddiki, taluka nazim Sardar Jarwar and others said that they feared the government would back away from its earlier decision of declaring Shahdadkot a district.

They demanded that instead of Qambar, Shahdadkot be made headquarters of the newly-created district. They warned that their protest would continue till the government made an announcement in this regard.