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LARKANA, Sept 3: A complete strike was observed in Ratodero and Shahdadkot on Tuesday in protest against the rejection of the nomination papers of the chairperson of the PPP, Ms Benazir Bhutto.
The women wing of the PPP took out processions in Larkana and Ratodero.
The business and traders communities in both sub-divisional headquarters responded well to the call of the PPP with a shutter-down strike.
Amidst tight police security, the main bazaars of Shahdadkot including Shahi Bazaar, Koto Moto Chowk, Anaj Mandi, Mumtaz Chowk, and Station Road wore a deserted look.
In Ratodero, a large number of PPP activists took out a procession.
It started from the PPP city office and after marching on the main roads of the town stopped at the main bus terminal.
Ms Nasiban Channa, president, PPP women wing, Larkana District, led another procession in Ratodero.
It marched through the main streets of the town and staged a sit-in outside the office of the returning officer, Ratodero.
TALUKA COUNCIL: Meanwhile, the Taluka Council of Ratodero that met on Tuesday through a resolution demanded the government to restore the nomination papers of Ms Benazir Bhutto and permit her to contest the elections.
In Larkana, Dr Yasmin Shah, president, PPP women wing, Sindh province, Ms Nasiban Channa, and Ms Tauqeer Fatima led a women’s procession.
Carrying banners and placards, they marched through the city roads and stopped in front of Jinnahbagh.
They staged a sit-in outside the office of the returning officer who had rejected Ms Benazir’s nomination papers.
Adds our Sukkur correspondent: Hundreds of women activists of the PPP staged demonstrations in Sukkur and Jacobabad on Tuesday against the election authorities for rejecting nomination forms of the party chairperson, Benazir Bhutto.
In Sukkur the Pakistan Peaople’s Party rally was led by Rukhsana Abbasi, president, ladies wing, PPP, Sukkur.
Talking to newsmen on the occasion, she said that on the one hand, the government was claiming to hold free and fair elections and on the other, it had kept the PPP leadership, including Ms Bhutto, Nisar Khuhro and Khursheed Shah, out of the election process.
In Jacobabad hundreds of women activists of the party took out a rally and staged a demonstration in front of the DCO office. They also staged a sit-in for four hours there.
The protest was led by Dr Yasmeen Shah, president, ladies wing, PPP Sindh.
MMA: A central leader of the Muttahida Majlisi-Amal, Moulana Mohammad Asad Thanvi, who is a candidate for NA-198, has said that for the last 55 years, successive governments looted the national exchequer and made the country a slave of the IMF.
Speaking at a press conference at Jamia Ashrafia here on Tuesday, he deplored that the government under the dictate of the IMF had rendered thousands of government employees jobless in the name of down-sizing or right-sizing.
Adds our Hyderabad Correspondent: A large number of PPP activists from three Talukas of Hyderabad including women wing leaders held a protest rally in the city and observed token hunger strike outside the press club for the 4th consecutive day on Tuesday in protest against the rejection of the nomination forms of Ms Benazir Bhutto.
They raised slogans against the rulers.
They demanded that the nomination forms of Ms Benazir should be accepted.
STPP: The central executive council, Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party (STPP), at a meeting held here the other day endorsed the decision of the central committee of the party not to take part in the ensuing general election.
The meeting accused the government of pre-polls rigging and ruled out the possibility of holding fair election.
It was of the opinion that the rulers had evolved a strategy to defeat their opponents in the general election.
It also condemned the rejection of nomination forms of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto.
The meeting protested against the decision to announce the NFC award on the basis of population.
It said the old policy of exploitation of resources of Sindh and oppressed nations for the benefit of Punjab had also been followed in the NFC award.
It was of the considered opinion that the country could only be rescued from the crisis if the natural resources of the federating units were given in the control of the provinces.
The meeting also condemned the construction of the greater Thal canal.
It called upon the rulers to study the objections and reservations of Sindh while taking any decision in respect of water distribution, NFC award and provincial autonomy.
Party chairman Dr Qadir Magsi presided over the meeting.
