KARACHI, March 14: The Pakistan People’s Party has condemned the arrest of its party leaders and workers throughout Sindh on the occasion of a rally taken out from Karachi to Sukkur on Thursday against the construction of the proposed greater Thal Canal

Speaking at a press conference, Munawar Sohrawardy, a spokesman for the Bilawal House, termed the arrests as “unlawful and unconstitutional”, and said more than 2,500 party workers, including central leaders, had been arrested by the police and other law-enforcement agencies.

He alleged that since morning all roads leading to Bilawal House had been blocked by the administration.

“Despite all stringent measures, the procession comprising 200 buses, was taken out by the leaders and workers of the party which managed to reach the National Highway near Quaidabad and Steel Town area where it was subjected to violence, and a large number of processionists were arrested,” he said.

The arrested leaders included Manzoor Hussain Wasan, Taj Haider, Yousuf Talpur, Qaim Ali Shah, Abdullah Murad and many women workers.

PPP Karachi division secretary general Habib Junedi said both rural and urban areas of the province would be equally affected by the construction of Thal Canal.

Prominent among those present on the occasion included Fauzia Wahab and President, Women Division Sindh and Dr. Yasmin Shah.