Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) and Sindh Bachayo Committee observed a complete shutter down and wheel Jam strikes in protest of Sindh Peoples’ Local Government Act (SPLGA).
The strike call was given by the Sindh Bachayo Committee (SBC), Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Sindh United Party, Jeay Sindh Tehreek, Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party, Awami Tehreek, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional, National People’s Party, Pakistan Peoples’ Party-Shaheed Bhutto and Civil Society of Sindh. The participants of the strike also protested against the use of abusive language against lawmakers of National Peoples’ Party (NPP) particularly women lawmakers of PML-F in Sindh Assembly. All commercial activity came to a halt in strongholds of the opposition parties of PPP and MQM. Public transport was not allowed to ply on roads and the strike proved to be an effective show of force in all big and small cities and towns of the province. Professional bodies, human rights activists and writers’ organizations also participated in the strike while Malir Bar Association, Sanghar District Bar Association, Khairpur District Bar Association and Karachi Bar Association members boycotted court proceedings and staged protest demonstrations.
Large protest demonstrations were held in Larkana, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Khairpur, Sukkur, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Thatta, Badin, Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Kahn, Ghotki, Faizganj, Sakrand, Moro, Qazi Ahmad, Nawabsah, Daur, Bandhi, , Pir Jo Goth, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Gaghar Phattak, Bhens Colony, Safoora Chowrangi Bhittai Abad, , Daddu, Naushehro Feroze, Moro, Faizganj, Gambat, Ranipur, Rohiri, , Wada Machoon, Babarlo, Therrhi, Kumb, Padedan, Thatta, Golarrchi, Choohar Jamali, Badin, Fazil Rahou, Talhar, , Mithi, Islam Kot, Sakrand, Dolat Pur, Jhudo, Khai, Chachro and Umer Kot.
Meanwhile several rallies were also carried out in the different localities of Karachi. A rally led by PML-F Bin Qasim Town president Faqeer Abdul Qadir was carried out from Gaghar Phattak and staged a sit-in on National Highway in front of Malir Press Club. Faqeer Abdul Qadir, Nanagar Khan Shar, Nazar and others addressed the rally. Qadir said that the people of Sindh had rejected the black law called SPLGA and strongly condemn the misbehavior and use of abusive language by PPP MPA’s against PML-F’s women lawmakers of Sindh Assembly. Faqeer demanded resignations of all MPAs and ministers who used foul words against PML-F’s women members of Sindh assembly. Workers and supporters of the member parties of SBC also staged sit-in and demonstration at Safoora Chowrangi and the sit in was led by Sindh National Movement President Ali Hassan Chandio PML-F Tando Allahyar president Amjad Hussain Khokhar headed the Tando Allahyar rally and addressed the gathering at PML-F Tando Allahyar secretariat. Khokhar said that the people of Sindh would never accept the “anti Sindh and anti people black law of SPLGA. Today’s complete and peaceful strike has proved that the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) has lost its vote bank and support amongst the people of sindh”.
A protest demonstration and sit-in at Shikarpur was led by President Jeay Sindh Tahreek (JST) Dr Safdar Sarki, and PML-F leader Mir Asghar Khan Panhwar. The sit-was orchestrated in front of the Press club. Dr Sarki in his speech said, that “the people of Sindh had pronounced their decision by observing a complete and peaceful shutter down strike across the Sindh”. He said that people of Sindh had proved that ‘they are not with PPP but they are with the nationalists’.
The protest rally of Sanghar was led by PML-F Sanghar District President Muhammad Bux Khaskheli. The participants of the rally were addressed by Pml-F Sanghar office bearers at the main square of the city. Muhammad Bux in his address said that “the spiritual followers of Pir Pagaro including workers of PML-F would sacrifice their lives on a call of Pir Pagaro if the rights of Sindhis will be stolen”. He said that the attitude of PPP towards the residents of interior was as that of the British towards the local populace in the nineteenth century. He said that the use of abusive language against opposition members was an attack on the choice of the populace and added that those trying to inculcate fear by displaying force would wither away if they had to face the resolve of Hurs.
More than two dozen protestors were injured when unidentified criminals opened indiscriminate fire at a rally carried out by PML-F and SBC supporters at Chaodagi town of district Sanghar Thousands of workers of PML-F and nationalist parties also staged a rally in Mirpurkhas. The rally was led by Mirpurkhas PML-F district president Sarfraz Junejo. The participants of the rally shouted slogans against PPP lawmakers and SPLGA. Junejo accused the PPP for opening fire on the rally in Chaodagi, which injured more than a dozen workers. Junejo said that armed representatives of PPP and MQM were forcing citizens to recoil from the shutter down strike at gun point.
