MQM workers take to the streets in Sindh towns over raid on ‘Nine Zero’
HYDERABAD: Many towns in the interior of Sindh shut abruptly on Wednesday after enraged workers of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement took to the streets in the wake of a predawn raid by paramilitary Rangers on the MQM headquarters in Karachi known as Nine Zero.
In Hyderabad, angry youths burnt tyres on roads in units No-8 and 10 of Latifabad while a large number of party workers gathered at the local party office at Bhai Ki Chari to listen to the telephonic address by their leader Altaf Hussain from London.
Know more: Rangers raid MQM HQ in Karachi, detain member of Rabita Committee
The party’s women workers also held a demonstration in unit-7 of Latifabad.
Roads wore a deserted look as shops and bazaars were completely shuttered.
Attendance was thin in government and private offices and schools postponed paper of annual examination of different classes scheduled for the day.
The Rangers personnel patrolled different parts of the city but there was no report of any untoward incident.
Some shots were fired into the air in different areas of Tando Allahyar but luckily it caused no harm to anybody.
A partial strike was observed in Sukkur against the Rangers’ raid. All markets and bazaars remained shuttered while shops were open in some areas of the city. Attendance in government and private offices remained as usual.
The MQM workers held a demonstration outside the party office at Jinnah Chowk in Sukkur which was led by party leaders.
The party workers took out a rally in Jacobabad in protest against the raid.
The participants of the rally marched on different roads and ended in a demonstration in front of the press club.
Local leaders demanded immediate release of MQM workers during the raid and warned they would expand their protest.
A complete shutter-down strike was observed in Mirpurkhas against the raid as all shops and shopping centers remained closed. Petrol pumps, CNG service stations and hotels were also shuttered while enraged youths burnt tyres on roads and hundreds of MQM workers including women took out a rally against Rangers.
Similar protests were also staged in Mirwah Gorchani town, Digri, Jhuddo, Tando Jan Mohammad, Naokot, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, Jhilori, Sindhri, Phulladiyoon, Hingorno, Khaan, etc.
All main markets and bazaars in Nawabshah pulled down shutters in the wake of raid on MQM headquarters as unidentified armed men made aerial firing at several places and forced all markets to close.
MQM office-bearers strongly condemned the raid and arrest of senior leader Amir Khan and others.
The party activists took out a rally and held a demonstration in front of Shikarpur press club in protest against the raid on 90, the residence and party office of MQM supremo, Altaf Hussain.
MQM leaders termed the raid part of political victimisation of the party and announced observing black day against the incident.
A partial shutdown was observed in Mahrabpur and Padidan towns and MQM workers and office-bearers held demonstrations in Naushahro Feroze outside the National Press Club against the raid on Nine Zero.
Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2015
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