HYDERABAD, Oct 3: Activists of different civil society organisations observed a token hunger strike outside the local press club on Wednesday against the newly-adopted local government law.

Lawyers, office-bearers of Sindh University Teachers Association, NGOs and other organisations observed the hunger strike for around two hours, raising slogans against President Asif Ali Zardari and urging the government to repeal it.

They alleged that the government had divided Sindh on an MQM’s demand for introducing a dual local government system in the province.

They said the PPP had been voted to power by Sindhi people, but it had divided Sindh without realising that Sindhis were ready to sacrifice their lives for their motherland.

They paid tribute to the father of JSQM-B activist Ali Raza Khaskheli who said he was ready to sacrifice his other sons for Sindh. Ali Raza was gunned down during anti-local government ordinance protests.

They said: “Today people are talking about Sindh’s division because system of the state is not in the hands Sindhi people.” They said liberation was the only option left for them and added that Sindh was a collective soul of Sindhi people who would not let anyone cast an evil eye on their homeland.

They said the entire Sindh was agitating against the local government system and it had been proved that the PPP was an anti-Sindh party.

They condemned disappearances of workers of nationalist parties, saying that they were being picked up and their homes were being raided.

They threatened to continue their protests if the black law introduced in the name of local government system was not repealed.

SUTA president Azhar Ali Shah and general secretary Arfana Mallah, Rabia Memon, Punhal Sario, Saghar Hanif Burdi of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (B) and others joined the protest.

JSQM-B: Activists of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM-B) and Sindh Tarraqi Passand Party (STP) held a demonstration outside the local press club on Wednesday in protest against killing of their party activist in Benazirabad on Monday.

JSQM-B leaders Masroor Thebo, Saghar Hanif Burdi and Rehman Pirzada protested against killing of Ali Raza Khaskheli, who was killed during an anti-local government law protests in Benazirabad on Monday.

They said he was the true son of the soil who had sacrificed his life while protesting for Sindh. They said they would keep raising their voice against the division of Sindh.

They said rulers were not ready to listen to people’s voice because they were enjoying power and now they were unable to see motherland of Sindh.

STPP: Activists of Sindh Taraqqi Passand Party on Wednesday blocked the Fateh Chowk and observed a strike in Sindh against killing of their party activist.

Malik Nohani was gunned down earlier in the day in Digri in Mirpurkhas district during a protest against the anti-local government system.

A party spokesman said Nohani was a former Mirpurkhas district chapter president of the STP. He was protesting along with other party activists outside the residence of PPP MPA Haji Hayat Talpur in Digri when they were fired upon.

Marvi Town, Qasimabad, Bhittai Naggar, Bhittai Town, Marvi Garden and other areas remained closed. The protesters also blocked the traffic going to Mirpurkhas and Badin districts.

Local party leaders Sachal Gopang and Zahid Bhagi led a protest of party workers against the killing. They demanded arrest of culprits who had killed Nohani and condemned the government for introducing the dual local government system.

Activists of Sindh National Movement’s district chapter also held a demonstration against the newly-adopted local government law. Jahangi Mallah, Malhi Shankar and Ghulam Rasool Mallah were leading them.