A man died and several others were injured across Sindh on Monday as the province went on a shutter down strike to protest the promulgation of Sindh People’s Local Government Ordinance (SPLGO) and a prolonged delay in the investigation of the murder of Jeay
Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM)
chairman Bashir Ahmed Qureshi.
The death of a protester came when police opened aerial fire to disperse an unruly mob protesting against the SPLGO in Nawabshah.
The city, like several others, remained completely shut during the day on a call given by Sindhi nationalist parties against the controversial bill, which was passed by the Sindh Assembly with
majority on Monday.
A large number of political activists and citizens took to streets across Sindh, chanting slogans against the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
Police fired teargas shells in several areas to disperse the mobs and was pelted with stones in return by the protestors.
Police opened aerial firing on a crowd in Nawabshah, killing a worker of Jeay Sindh Quami Mahaz (JSQM).
He was identified as 18-year-old
Khadim Khaskheli.
The angry protestors went on a rampage and attacked the police and rangers, forcing them to retreat. They also set on fire the airport police station.
JSQM Central Vice Chairman Dr Niaz Kalani said police opened unprovoked fire and killed their activist and injured
seven others.
He said the party would hold peaceful protests in the entire province against the killing on October 3.
The remaining parts of the province also witnessed a shutter-down and wheel
jam strike.
A complete strike was observed in Tando Mohammad Khan, Dadu, Khairpur, Jamshoro and Mirpurkhas, where traffic on the roads remained close to nil.
Educational institutions and private offices also remained closed to express solidarity with the protestors.
Sindh University, Mehran University and Liaquat Medical University in Jamshoro also remained shut for the day.
However, the situation in Karachi remained per routine.
Enraged people torched a school bus near Degree College in Sukkur, a trailer in Tando Mohammad Khan and a tanker full of crude oil near Gharo.
Crackers also exploded in various areas of Khairpur, terrorizing the residents.
The nationalist parties also staged rallies, sit-ins and token hunger strikes during the day. Awami Tehreek leader Ayaz Latif Palijo went on hunger strike in Hyderabad along with dozens of party workers. The Sindh Assembly on Monday approved a bill for creation of metropolitan corporations in five divisions of the province – Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpur Khas, Sukkur and Larkana. All 18 towns of Karachi have been restored while all tehsils and talukas of Sindh have been made towns.
The decision drew widespread condemnation from nationalists and other parties, including the ANP, PML-F, PTI, PML-N and JI.
Man killed, several injured as Sindhis protest SPLGO
