HYDERABAD, Nov 20: Half dozen police mobiles and rapid deployment force raided the hunger strike camp of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) and Jeay Sindh Students Federation outside the Hyderabad press club here on Tuesday and arrested the central president JSSF Kehar Ansari and about six other activists.

The activists of the JSQM and the JSSF were protesting against the influx of Afghan refugees and other outsiders into Sindh, acute shortage of irrigation water, proposed transfer of 17 Dehs of Sindh to Punjab and the imprisonment of party chairman Bashir Khan Qureshi and vice chairman Dr Niaz Kalani.

After the raid, the hunger strike camp wore a deserted look. However, after the police left, about one dozen activists again came out from side lanes and resumed their hunger strike.

Earlier over 50 activists of the JSQM and the JSSF staged token hunger strike outside the Hyderabad press club.

Talking to newsmen district Hyderabad president of the JSQM Masroor Ahmed Thebo and newly elected president of the JSSF Kehar Ansari said the rehabilitation of Afghan refugees and other outsiders in Sindh was a conspiracy to convert the local population into minority.

They said Qureshi and Kalani were arrested for raising voice for the rights of Sindh province and added the proposed transfer of 17 Dehs to Punjab was aimed at distorting the demographic position of Sindh.

JSSF chief Kehar Ansari is believed to be arrested in the case of murder attempt on Dr Ghulam Ali Shaikh, chief medical officer of Central Prison Hyderabad.

Dr Shaikh was waylaid by some terrorists near Doctors Colony here on November 12 and severely beaten with bricks and stones.

He suffered serious head injuries including fracture and was removed to Liaquat University Medical Hospital city branch where he was operated upon.

He is still lying in coma in the hospital.

Meanwhile the JSSF leaders Akbar Jagirani, Faqir Sudheer Tunio, Waheed Soomro and others have announced black day will be observed in educational institutions on Wednesday against the arrest of Kehar Ansari and others.