BADIN, July 7: A strike was observed in Malkani Sharif, Tando Bago taluka, on Tuesday to protest against water shortage in eight water-courses of Matli revenue sub-division and potable water shortage in some 300 villages of the area.

Many growers of the Jarkas Shakh, Oilpur, Sangi, Bangar distributary, Khairpur Gambho minor, Pharho Shakh, Basran No1 and 2, gathered in the town and held a demonstration.

Marching through thoroughfares, the protesters raised slogans against irrigation officials, and later, staged a sit-in at the Jhudho-Pangrio road, blocking traffic for four hours.

Speaking to the protesters, leaders Fayaz Hussain Shah Rashdi, Ali Bakhsh Malkani, Haji Hussain Chandio, Tariq Arain and Mehmood Dalwani said that the acute water shortage had not only delayed cultivation but had also rendered barren thousands of acres of land. For the past five months, no water was supplied in the said waterways, they added.

SNF: Sindh National Front leader Haji Nabi Bux Bhurgari has deplored the murder of SNF central committee member Khushnood Ahmed Chacha. Talking to this correspondent, he said that it seemed that no one was safe from terrorists and added that the incident was essentially target killing. The SNF also held a condolence meeting and demanded early arrest of the culprits involved in the killing.