NAUSHAHRO FEROZE, March 12: A nationalist party activist and his two friends were killed in Mehrabpur on Saturday.The triple murder led to a complete shutter-down strike in Mehrabpur.

Lal Bukhsh Noonari alias Haji Khan Noonari, activist of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz and chairman of welfare organisation Sindhi Sajan Sath, was having tea with his friends police constables Salamat Manganhar and Sohrab Chandio. Eight armed men knocked at the gate and asked about Lal Bukhsh.

After confirming his presence, they entered the house and opened fire, killing Lal Bux and Salamat on the spot and seriously injuring Sohrab. He died on his way to the People's Medical College Hospital of Nawabshah.

Dr Zarina Noonari, wife of Lal Bukhsh, told Dawn that she had identified the killers. She said her husband had a dispute with Shabbir Kamboh and Sadiq Kamboh over a plot.

She said that Shabbir Kamboh owed some amount of money for which he had given cheques to her husband, but the cheques had been bounced and her husband lodged an FIR against Shabbir. In retaliation, Shabbir and Sadiq lodged a fake FIR for murder of one Akhtar Watto against her husband.

Later, about 300 people led by Dr Zarina Noonari and JSQM leader Jawed Chachar took out a procession carrying the body of Lal Bukhsh and staged a sit-in outside Mehrabpur police station. They were demanding registration of a case and arrest of the accused.

Some protesters attacked some shops and torched a welding shop.

They dispersed when DPO of Naushahro Feroze Abdul Qayoom Pitafi reached the spot and assured protesters of an action against the accused.

Police on the complaint of Dr Razia lodged an FIR under section 302, 34, 148, 149, 452 PPC and 7-ATA against Sadiq Kamboh, Shabbir Kamboh, Anwar Khushk, Mevo Khushk, Arshad Watto, Riaz Sehto and two unidentified men.Dr Zarina claimed that police were not cooperating with them and added that even the FIR had been registered after a protest sit-in.

She threatened to block railway track and observe a shutter-down strike from Sunday if the accused were not arrested.

A heavy contingent of police and Rangers was deployed in the area to maintain the law and order.