HYDERABAD, May 12: Reports of a complete shutter-down strike were received on Friday from Larkana, Naushahro Feroze, Khairpur, Thatta and Jacobabad while other districts respond partially to a province-wide strike call given by opposition parties in Sindh.
The strike was part of protests against construction of dams on the River Indus, demolition of Sindhi villages, price-hike, Nishtar park tragedy and delay in the arrest of culprits who killed nine workers of the Jamaat-i-Islami two years ago.
In Hyderabad district, there was no strike in the city. However, business and commercial centres were closed because Friday is not a working day here.
The areas where shops were opened on Friday for a few hours in the morning did normal business. Vehicular traffic and attendance in government offices were normal.
No unpleasant incident was reported from any part of the district.
LARKANA: A complete strike was observed in Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot district. markets, petrol pumps were closed while traffic on the roads was thin like the attendance in offices and schools.
Small groups of activists of different political parties took to the roads chanting slogans against anti-Sindh projects.
In Qambar, a procession led by Sultan Bhutto and Serai Irshad Lakho was taken out from the PPP office. The protestors burnt tyres and, after marching on main roads, assembled outside the local press club.
Speaking on the occasion, they criticised government for constructing Greater Thal canal against the will of three smaller provinces. The proposed construction of Kalabagh dam and Bhasha dam would lead to starvation in Sindh and huge agriculture devastation, they added.
SUKKUR: A complete strike was observed in Jacobabad, Thull, Buxapur, Kandhkot, Tangwani and other areas, and a partial shutdown was observed in Sukkur, Shikarpur, Ghotki, Mirpur Mathelo, Daharki, Ubauro, while no strike was observed in Kashmore, Guddu and adjoining areas.
In Sukkur, all main bazaars and business centres remained closed. Otherwise, the strike call received a mixed response.
Activists of different political parties, including, PPP-P, MMA, JI, STPP, SNF, JUI and others led by Mumtaz Sahito, Professor Masood Ahmed Khan, Musharraf Mehmood Qadri and others staged protest demonstration at Clock Tower.
MIRPURKHAS: The strike call failed to evoke a positive response in Mirpurkhas as business centres and markets were opened and traffic was normal.
Life was also normal in Mirwah, Digri, Tando Jan Mohammad, Jhuddo, Naokot, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, Samaro, Kunri, Umerkot, Pithoro.
However, a protest rally was taken out by dozens of people under the aegis of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, People’s Party, Sindh National Front and Jamat Ahl-i-Hadith from Madina Masjid after Namaz-i-Juma.
Carrying banners and placards, and raising slogans against the Sindh government and governor, they marched on main roads and reached Market chowk where speakers said the masses had lost confidence in the government.
They urged taxpayers not to pay taxes to government that had failed to protect to people.
KHAIRPUR: Main markets, including Shahi Bazaar, fruit and vegetable markets were closed. Transport in Khairpur city as well as in other towns of the district remained thin.
Activists of the Sindh Peoples Students Federation and the PPP took out a rally on motorbikes which passed through different roads.
When the rally reached Panj Gulla, police stopped it and tried to arrest some workers and also baton-charged protesters.
Four SPSF workers, Faqeer Zakir Hisbani, Imran Dahote, Ali Gul Khaskheli and Barkat Channa were arrested on the occasion.
Activist Taj Mohammad Rind told newsmen that police were not allowing any meeting with the arrested protesters.
NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: A complete shutter-down was observed in Naushahro Feroze, Moro, Kandiaro, Padidan and Phul.
NAWABSHAH: A partial strike was observed in the city whereas rural areas were completely closed. Sarafa bazaar, cloth market, trunk bazaar, Mohini bazaar and others were closed on Friday as normal.
However, shops on the hospital road, Liaquat market and Katchehry road remained open.
Some protesters smashed glasses of a laboratory at hospital road and mobile shop in Liaquat market and a photo laboratory in Mohini bazar due to absence of police in the areas.
Miscreants burnt tyres and blocked the National Highway near Nawab Wali Mohammad village, suspending vehicular traffic for an hour.
Meanwhile, MMA activists staged a protest demonstration outside Kabir mosque near railway station after Juma prayers.
DADU: A partial strike was observed in Dadu and Phulji towns to protest against the construction of Kalabagh, Bhasha dams and demolition of old Sindhi villages. Sehwan remained closed and a procession was taken out in Dadu town.
SHIKARPUR: The strike call received a mixed response here.
Activists of the Jamat-i-Islami and its affiliated organizations led by Maulvi Sadaruddin Mahar and Abdul Qadir Abro took out a procession from Madressah Furqania.
The rally was terminated after holding a demonstration at Lakhi Gate tower chowk.
THATTA: The strike call of opposition parties was responded positively in Thatta district. Business activists remained closed in Thatta, Sujawal, Mirpur Bathoro, Daro and other towns. In Jati, Chuhar Jamali and other localities of coastal belt, the call was partially responded.