HYDERABAD, March 6: A strike was observed in interior Sindh towns on Saturday on the call of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz against construction of Kalabagh dam and greater Thal canal projects.
In the Hyderabad city, a Wapda pickup (957-596) was torched by miscreants near the Hirabad Customer Services Centre of Hesco in the Market police station jurisdiction on Friday night.
A local passenger bus (GI 2492) was also set ablaze at the Badin bus stop. Two cars were also put to torch in Shewani locality in the Fort police station jurisdiction on Saturday morning.
However, business activities in main commercial areas of the city and Latifabad remained normal.
Shops remained closed in the Al-Amna Complex in Cantonment area. Qasimabad, Hussainabad, Talab-3, Tando Mir Mehmood, Khai road, Tando Agha and Tando Wali Mohammad areas also remained closed.
Transport service between Badin, Mirpurkhas, Nawabshah and other areas remained suspended.
The Qasimabad police arrested Sajid, Aijaz Soomro and Khadim Hussain at the Pakora bus stop in Qasimabad when they tried to pelt stone on vehicles. A case was registered against them.
Sindh Assembly Deputy Speaker Rahila Tiwana, while talking to journalists at a local hotel after attending a workshop on human rights, described the strike unjustified, saying President Gen Pervez Musharraf had already constituted two committees to decide the water issue.
LARKANA: On the call of the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, a strike was observed here on Saturday against construction of greater Thal canal and Kalabagh dam projects.
Trade centres, markets, petrol pumps and roadside cabins remained closed. Transport remained off the road and attendance in schools and offices was very thin.
In Ratodero, protest processions were taken out.
Led by Momin Odho, the protesters blocked the Larkana-Ratodero road and chanted slogans against what they called anti-Sindh water projects.
They also burnt tyres.
Police picked up Ratodero taluka JSQM president Bashir Junejo, Hadi Bakhsh Kumbhar, Zaffar Langah and Barkat Ali.
In Kambar, activists of JSQM, led by Yunis Soomro, took out a procession.
They burnt tyres and blocked the Larkana-Kambar road and raised slogans against the projects.
The police arrested Pir Bakhsh Chandio, Nisar Ansari, Riaz Magsi and Allahwarayo Magsi. However, leaders of the party claimed that the police had picked around 20 workers.
The Dokri town also remained shut.
JSQM activists took out processions and staged sit-ins on the Larkana-Moenjodaro road and the Dokri-Badah road.
They also blocked different other roads in the town.
In Garilo, Ali Akbar Kori and Mohammad Ali Ansari were injured in a clash between protestors and shopkeepers.
The police registered an FIR against 10 JSQM activists, Akbar Kori, Tariq Brohi, Khadim Kori, Insaf Jatoi, Akhtiar Ansari, Nadeem Brohi, Safraz Abro, Mashkoor Abro, Khalid and Mirch Pirzado.
THATTA: Business activities in nine talukas of the district remained closed since morning. Main highways and link roads wore a deserted look.
Enraged youths damaged windscreen of a truck and a pickup in Mirpur Bathoro.
JSQM activists, supported by members of the Fishermen Association, Palari Association, Primary Teachers Association and the Government Secondary Teachers Association, took out a procession in Jhimpir.
The protesters, led by JSQM leader Ali Ahmad Solangi, marched through main thoroughfares and chanted slogans against the waterprojects. They also burnt tyres on main roads.
Processions were also taken out in Daro, Chuhar Jamali and Mirpur Sakro.
DADU: All bazaars and main shopping centres remained closed in Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Sita Road, and Bhan Saeedabad towns.
Traffic remained thin on highways.
Noor Mohammad suffered injuries after protesters threw a firecracker on his rickshaw.
KHAIRPUR: Shahi Bazaar, Panj Gulla and Panj Hatti and Gambat, Ranipur, Khuhra, Sui Gas, Pakka Chang and Thari Mirwah towns remained closed.
The Gambat police arrested Shahbaz and Ali Mohammad for blocking a road in the town.
Miscreants hurled stones on vehicles on the Khairpur-Nawabshah link road near the Sui Gas town.
SHIKARPUR: Strike was also observed in Shikarpur as shops in the main Shahi Bazaar and other business centres remained shut.
Activists of the Pakistan People's Party, Awami Tehrik and other parties, supported the JSQM workers.
NAWABSHAH: A partial strike was observed in the district.
Sakrand, Kutchehry, Hospital and Masjid roads, Qazi Ahmad Morr and other areas of the Nawabshah town remained closed. The Chakra Bazaar, Cloth Market and other areas remained open.
NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: A strike was observed in Naushahro Feroze, Moro, Mithiani, Tharushah, Bhirya Road, Kandiaro, Mehrabpur, Halani, Darya Khan Mari, Padidan and other towns and villages of the district.
In the Naushahro Feroze town, JSQM activists, led by Shabbir Mubejo, Khadim Lashari, Younus Vistro and Wazir Wagan, took out a procession and burnt tyres on the Tharushah Road, blocking it for one hour.
They demanded that the disputed water projects should be shelved forthwith.
A demonstration was held outside the Moro Press Club.
The protesters burnt tyres and blocked the National Highway for one hour.
JACOBABAD: A strike was observed in the district where shops remained closed in main bazaars.
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