KARACHI - Most of Sindh towns and cities Thursday observed shutter down strike on call of the nationalist parties to protest against the new Sindh Local Government Ordinance.
One person was killed when unidentified armed men opened fire at a rally taken out by activists of a nationalist party in Mirpurkhas. After the killing, the enraged protesters torched motorbikes in protest and damaged public and private property. Jamaat-e-Islami and some other political parties had called off their support for the strike due to Baldia factory fire tragedy. However, the life was paralysed in scores of towns in interior Sindh due to the strike. The activists of nationalist groups observed sit-in at Qasimabad Bypass. An angry mob attacked with sticks and stones an ambulance at Tando Muhammad Khan road and thrashed the driver of the ambulance, a spokesman for Edhi Trust said.
In Nawabshah, the activists of nationalist parties observed a demonstration and blocked the National Highway. The police reached the spot and fired tear gas shells at the protesters to disperse them during which a man was injured.
Six workers of Awami Tehrik were arrested in Thatta, while Dadu, Mehar and Juhi observed complete shutter down. In Mithi, Islamkot, Naukot, Diplo, Nangarparkar, Chachro, Kaloi and other towns of district Tharparkar the businesses remained closed and vehicular traffic was suspended. The workers of Awami Tehrik, Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party, Muslim League (Likeminded) and Functional League marched in Mithi as businesses were closed in Umarkot, Pithoro, Samaro and Shadi Palli. Life was at standstill in Naushehro Feroz, Moro, Kandiaro, Bhiria City and other towns as traffic vanished from the National Highway.
All shopping centres and shops were closed in Jamshoro, Badin, Matli, Golarchi, Tando Bago, Talhar and Tando Ghulam Ali, while tyres burnt at roads. In Sanghar five persons were injured in a clash when some people forced people to close their shops.