LARKANA, July 4: A big protest rally was held under the flag of All Government Employees Trade Unions Alliance here on Wednesday against the government’s plan to send low-grade employees to surplus pool, sacking workers of different departments and forcible lockouts at industrial units.

The rally started from Lahori regulator and after marching on main roads of the city, staged a sit-in at Pakistan Chowk.

Later, the protesters, carrying banners and placards, assembled outside the district council hall.

Speaking on the occasion, Manzoor Aheer, Sabir Soomro, Zulfikar Sangi, Peeral Dayo, Shabir Solangi and others urged the government to stop anti-people programmes.

They demanded of the government to review its policy regarding installing crystal power meters and pledged to continue their protest till the acceptance of their demands.

Passenger killed: One passenger was killed and three policemen were injured on Tuesday night when a Karachi-bound coach came under the firing of highwaymen near Nasirabad, some 35 km from here.

Budhal Brohi was killed when the highwaymen opened fire on the coach.

The policemen, guarding the coach, and those in a mobile van retaliated the firing.

Assistant sub-inspector Azizullah Tunio and two other policemen, Dost Mohammad and Ghulam Kambar, were injured in the firing.

The injured were admitted to the Chandka Medical College Teaching Hospital.

60 villagers faint: About 60 villagers fell unconscious after consuming Lassi during a break in farming work in Khairpur Joso village of this district on Tuesday.

The affected people, including women and children, were taken to the CMC Hospital where some of them were admitted for their critical condition.

Edhi volunteers, using as many as seven ambulances, shifted the people to hospital and police were told that the villagers started fainting immediately after consuming Lassi.

Doctors have collected samples of the patients’ intake for chemical examination.