HYDERABAD, June 18: The People's Party Parliamentarians observed a protest day in Sindh on Friday to condemn the murder of its leader, Munawwar Suharwardy, in Karachi on Thursday.
Processions were taken out and rallies staged in all the major cities and towns of the province and a strike was observed in Sujawal, Thatta, Tando Mohammad Khan, Mirpur Bathoro, Hala and other towns.
At some places, the angry workers pelted vehicles, shops and banks with stones but no major loss of property was reported from anywhere. The speakers at different rallies accused the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the government of being a privy to the murder and demanded the dismissal of the Sindh chief minister.
In Hyderabad, hundreds of PPP activists took out a protest procession, led by MPA Zahid Ali Bhurgari and others, with the participants raising slogans against President Gen Pervez Musharraf and the Sindh government. The party activists took out another procession in Tando Mohammad Khan and blocked main road of the town for two hours.
THATTA: A strike was observed throughout the district and processions were taken out in various towns. Mirpur Bathoro, Daro, Gharo, Sujawal, Jati, Chuhar Jamali, Ladioon, Mirpur Sakro and other towns remained closed. In Thatta, the participants of a procession, after marching through main thoroughfares, staged a sit-in on the National Highway.
NAWABSHAH: PPP activists took out a procession and blocked roads by burning tyres here. Enraged protesters smashed windowpanes of a bank and several shops.
MIRPURKHAS: A procession was taken out by the PPP workers here, with the protesters carrying banners and placards and raising slogans against the government. The angry workers burnt tyres at the Post Office Chowk, Taxi Stand and M.A. Jinnah Road as result vehicular traffic was suspended for some time.
BADIN: Responding to the call of the PPP, its workers observed a black day here to mourn the death of Mr Suharwardy. The activists wore black arm-bands and hoisted black flags on their houses, offices and vehicles.
A strike was observed in Tando Ghulam Ali where shops and markets remained closed. The PPP activists marched from the Digri road to the local press club outside which they staged a sit-in for four hours.
KHAIRPUR: PPP workers held a protest demonstration here and meetings in different parts of the district. They also took out processions in Kumb and Kot Diji towns and Nawab Wassan village. The protesters said that the recent murder of the PPP leader was another example of target killing after the death of MPA Murad Baloch.
DADU: A large number of PPP workers took out a procession and later held a demonstration here. Speaking at the rally, PPP district general secretary Dost Ali Jaiser demanded early arrest of the killers and a judicial inquiry into the incident.
Protest demonstrations were also held in Mehar, Radhan, Sehwan, Johi and Khairpur Nathan Shah against the killing of Mr Suharwardy.
JACOBABAD: PPP workers too out a procession here which started from the city office of the party and passed through main roads of the city. The protesters, carrying banners and placards inscribed with anti-government slogans, blocked the Indus Highway for half an hour by staging a sit-in.
SHIKARPUR: On the call of the PPP leadership, a strike was observed here as a result bazaars and commercial centres remained closed.
NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: The activists of the Sindh Peoples' Students' Federation took out a procession here, demanding early arrest of the killers of Mr Suharwardy.