Shutter down strike in interior Sindh

A complete shutter down strike was observed on Thursday in major districts of Sindh on the call of Save Sindh Committee (Sindh Bachayo Committee), an alliance of various nationalist parties and supported by political parties against newly introduced Peoples Local Government Ordinance 2012 by the Sindh government.
According to the reports from Hyderabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kamber-Shahdadkot, Dadu, Mehar, K. N Shah, Ratodero, Sijawal, Naushehro Feroz, Khairpur, Ghotki, Kandhkot, Kashmore, Sakrand, Kandiaro, Mirokhan, Naudero, Qubo Saeed Khan and other parts of Sindh, all major shopping centers, bazaars, vegetable and fruit markets, and petrol stations remained closed in respective cities. Transport was also scanty.
All private and several government schools remained closed due to non-availability of transport and wheel-jam strike in various districts of Sindh.
Strict security was beefed up as police deployed on entry and exit routes, roundabouts, and sensitive points in cities and towns to meet any untoward incident. Police arrested a large number of nationalist workers in different cities and towns.
In Larkana, trader community and citizens responded to the protest call positively. All the business centers, markets, shopping centers, including the Shahi Bazaar, Resham Gali, Sarafa Bazar, station road, Lahori Muhalla, Pakistani Chowk, Royal Chowk, Fish Market, Anaj Bazar, fruit Mandi, and others remained closed.
Lawyers boycotted the court activities to protest against promulgation of the local government ordinance in most parts of Sindh.
Communication between other cities of Sindh including Larkana to Kamber Shahdadkot, Ratodero, Naudero, Bakrani, Dokri, Mehar, Dadu, Shikarpur and other cities were suspended due to a complete wheel-jam.
While the JSQM, SUP, STP, PPP Shaheed Bhutto, SNP, National Peoples Party and other political and nationalist organizations took out their separate protest rallies against the “black law”.
Rallies started from different locations after marching through various roads reached at Jinnah Bagh Chowk and Press Club, where enraged protesting activists set the effigies of the rulers on fires and burnt tyers.
Police and rangers were deployed at various points to control any untoward situation on the occasion. On the occasion, police apprehended the 13 activists.
While in Mirpurkhas a nationalist worker was killed and several injured in firing by unidentified persons.
Attendance was thin at private and government universities including Sindh University, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology , Liaquat Medical College, Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur and other educational institutions in all over the province.
Nationalist parties including Awami Tehreek (AT), Sindh Taraqi Passand Party (STP), Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), Sindh United Party (SUP) and others along with Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Muslim League Functional (PML-F) and Awami National Party leaders thanked the people of Sindh for registering their protest against promulgation of the local government ordinance.