September 12, 2007	Wednesday	Sha'aban 29, 1428

HYDERABAD, Sept 11: Complete strike was observed in different cities and towns of Sindh on Tuesday in response to a call given by All-Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) for observing ‘black day’ against forced deportation of former prime minister Mian Mohammad Nawaz Sharif and arrest of political leaders.

The component parties of the APDM, particularly, Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party, brought out processions and rallies in Thatta, Tando Muhammad Khan, Badin, Talhar, Mirpurkhas, Larkana and their adjoining towns.

Protesters in Thatta blocked the National Highway and some enraged workers hurled stones at passing vehicles smashing their windowpanes.

An STP spokesman said that dozens of their workers had been arrested in different towns of the province.

In Hyderabad, activists of APDM parties staged demonstration outside the press club while complete strike was observed in Qasimabad taluka on the STP’s call.

The president of Hyderabad chapter of MMA, Abdul Waheed Qureshi, said that it was violation of the Constitution to stop a Pakistani from entering his country and demanded immediate release of all the APDM leaders.

Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party leader Saleem Tareen Khan said the government had trampled upon the democratic and moral values while JUP leader Sahibzada Mehmood Ahmed Qadri criticised Saudi Arabian government for interfering into the internal affairs of Pakistan.

Complete strike was observed in Tando Mohammad Khan with all the business centres and shops shuttered down while activists of different political parties burnt tyres on roads.

Local STP leader Dr Ahmed Noonari said that Mr Sharif’s deportation and arrest of political leaders had added another black chapter to the history of Pakistan.

He said the criminals belonging to an ethnic party were accorded full protocol by the Musharraf government when they visited Pakistan but the entry of a former prime minister was banned. No one would be able to stop the APDM struggle against the authoritarian rule, he said.

Roads, streets and markets wore a deserted look in Thatta, Sujawal, Mirpur Bathoro, Jhoke Sharif, Mirpur Sakro, Chuhar Jamali, Jati, Gharo and several other small and big towns of Thatta.

In Thatta, STP activists led by Dr Wali Jakhro blocked the Thatta Bypass and National Highway passing through the town by placing boulders and burning tyres. Some enraged activists damaged some cars and pickups by pelting stones at them.

Police baton charged the activists to restore traffic. Most of the roads wore a deserted look throughout the day and attendance in schools and offices remained thin.

STP activists staged rallies, sit-ins and burnt tyres in Bhirya town, Tharushah, Naushahro Feroze and Kandiaro while partial strike was observed in Dadu and a demonstration was staged in Mehar. All the business centres, shops and markets remained closed in Badin, Talhar, Golarchi, Kadhan and their adjoining towns and heavy police contingents kept patrolling the towns.

In Digri shutter-down strike was observed and a rally was taken out by Awami Tehrik and STP activists while all the markets and business centres remained closed.

Larkana and Shahdadkot observed shutter-down strike while police picked six activists of STP when they were allegedly forcing shopkeepers to close their shops. More than six people were injured when police used batons against them.

Activists of Jamaat-i-Islami and JUI-F also took out processions in Larkana and assembled at Jinnabagh Chowk.