SHIKARPUR, Aug 9: Over 40 political and human rights activists observed a token hunger strike at the Lakhi Gate roundabout here on Sunday in protest against police failure to recover seven kidnapped men.

The protesters expressed concern over poor efforts of police to maintain law and order and recover Bashu Tanwri, Ghulam Tanwri, Badruddin Tanwri, Abdul Sattar Bhutto, Riaz Soomro, Azhar Soomro and Sham Lal, who had been kidnapped for ransom five months ago from different parts of the district.

They demanded early recovery of the hostages and maintenance of law and order in the district. Those who observed hunger strike included Noor Nabi Baloch of the People's Party Parliamentarians, Zahid Hussain Mirani of the Sindh People's Students' Federation and Dr Wazir Ghunjo of the Amnesty International.

CIVIC PROBLEMS: Pakistan Muslim League MNA Dr Mohammad Ibrahim Jatoi has expressed concern over failure of the Shikarpur municipal administration to solve sanitary and drainage problems in the city.

After visiting different areas of the city, he urged the taluka municipal administration to take effective measures to bring an end to civic problems. Dr Jatoi also expressed dissatisfaction over development works carried out in urban and rural areas of the district.

ROBBERY: Two residents of Hajano village, Shoukat Hajano and Shabbir Hajano, were deprived of their motorcycles by four armed bandits near here.