HYDERABAD, April 26: Enraged supporters and activists of the Pakistan People’s Party and its sister organisations took to the streets as groups of armed men fired in the air to force closure of shops across the province on Thursday in the wake of Supreme Court’s verdict against Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on charge of contempt of court.

A man was injured in Nawabshah during aerial firing and in Hyderabad, the district president of People’s Students Federation (PSF) Rizwan Mughal announced that 100 PSF activists would commit self-immolation outside the press club if the apex court did not review its verdict. Groups of armed men with faces covered were seen firing in the air in bazaars and commercial areas to force shopkeepers to pull down shutters.

In Hyderabad city, enraged PPP activists gathered in the district council building and then marched to the press club where some armed men fired gunshots in the air.

Activists of the PPP cultural wing and Sindh People’s Youth Organisation (SPYO) also took out processions and activists of SPYO staged mock hanging of an effigy of ‘justice’.

Personnel of Rangers and police intensified patrolling. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the city. PSF activists blocked the Indus Highway in Jamshoro and burnt tyres on the road.

In Nawabshah, PPP activists reacted strongly to the verdict. Gunmen were seen making aerial firing at different places, forcing people to close markets.

One Imtiaz suffered injuries when he was hit by a stray bullet during aerial firing on Sanghar road. He was taken to the People’s Medical University Hospital.

Two shopkeepers Mehmood Ali and Nooruddin were beaten up by armed men when they refused to pull down shutters. Business activities remained suspended in Daur, Bandhi, Jam Sahab, Qazi Ahmed, Doulatpur and other places.

Activists of PPP, SPSF, SPYO and ladies wing held demonstrations outside the press club and bunt tyres on roads. They condemned the Supreme Court decision and said PPP always struggled for the restoration of democracy but it was always victimised.

In Sukkur, hundreds of armed workers of PPP and SPYO resorted to aerial firing in different part of the city, creating harassment and leading to closure of bazaars and commercial areas.

At about 12.00 noon a large number of armed PPP workers on foot and on motorbikes gathered in bazaars and other public places and started firing in the air which continued unabated till 4.00 pm.

They broke down shutters of shops at a number of places and burnt tyres on roads. Shopkeepers put up resistance at some places and kept their shops open.

Police acted like silent spectators as the armed men kept firing in the air.

PPP activists and supporters held similar protests in Ghotki, Khanpur Mahar, Mirpur Mathelo, Kandhkot, Thull, Shikarpur, Naushahro Feroze, Naushahro Feroze, Moro, Kandiaro, Mithiani, Darya Khan Mari, Padidan, Bhirya Road, Bhirya City, Tharushah, Kandiaro, Khan Wahan, Mohbat Dero, Halani, Mehrabpur, Thatta, Mirpur Bathoro, Mirpur Sakro, Jhoke Sharif, Sujawal, coastal town of Chauhar Jamali, Jati, Gharo, Ghorabari, Mirpurkhas, Dadu, Bhan Syedabad, Jamshoro, Kotri, Umerkot, Samaro, Kunri, Pithoro, Ghulam Nabi Shah, Shadi Palli, Dhoronaro, Chhor, Badin, Tando Mohammad Khan, Khairpur and Larkana.