SUKKUR: Division of Sukkur opposed

Published June 25, 2005

SUKKUR, June 24: On the call of People’s Party Parliamentarians, a big procession was taken out from Jamia Mosque here on Friday in protest against proposed division of the city into two talukas.

Activists of several political parties, including the PPP, JUI-F, PML-N and Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party, participated in the rally.

MNA Khursheed Shah led the protesters.

The protesters marched through the main roads and bazaars and gathered at the Clock Tower.

They were carrying placards and banners and chanting slogans against the coalition government.

Speaking on the occasion, MNA Khursheed Shah strongly condemned the proposed division and said it was being done at the behest of a certain political party.

He said the city enjoyed a great historical position since many decades and wrong policies of the Sindh government had put its existence at the stake.

He said the division in urban and rural portions would only add to hatred among different lingual groups.

MPA Nasrullah Baloch said the division would never be allowed as it was being done through a conspiracy to ignite an ethnic fire.

He said the division was aimed at to weaken the vote bank of the PPP.

He said the PPP enjoyed support of more than 70 per cent of the people of the city and politics of the division would not weaken its position.

JUI leader Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro said it was done at the behest of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and it should be stopped forthwith.

Two drown: Two boys drowned in the Indus River at Sadhu Belo shrine here on Friday.

Satish Kumar, 14, a resident of Garhi Mori and Jaideep came here to participate in annual celebrations of Sadhu Belo.

They were taking bath in the river when strong current of water swept them away and they drown.

Bodies of the boys could not be fished out till filing the report.

CM: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has ordered the DCO to hold an inquiry into the Rohri incident and submit the report within a week time.

District Nazim Nasir Hussain Shah disclosed this on Thursday night.

He said no matter an FIR was registered against the Victims but every fact would come into light after the inquiry conducted by the DCO.

Besides, MNA Khursheed Ahmed Shah and other leaders of all parties conference visited Rohri and met with victims of police shelling and firing.

Mr Shah demanded a high-level inquiry and punishment of all those responsible for the highhandedness.

protest: Truck drivers blocked the National Highway near the toll plaza here on Wednesday night to protest against officials of the National Highway Authority for allegedly extorting money from them through a private contractor.

DPO Aftab Halepoto rushed to the area on Thursday morning and negotiated with the protesting drivers after which the blockade was ended.