Sindh Nationalists protesting against the Local government bill in Dharki.- Photo by Hanif Samoon

UMERKOT: Strike was observed on Wednesday in different districts of Sindh, on the call of Sindh Bachayo Commitee, to protest against People's Local Government Ordinance.

The Sindh Bachayo Committee (SBC) includes all the nationalist parties of Sindh; Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party, Awami Tehreek, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Sindh United Party are part of it.

Public transport remained thin in Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Sanghar , Hyderabad and Tharparkar districts. Rallies were taken out by nationalists in Mithi, Naukot, Sanghar, Khipro, Mirpurkhas and other districts and its cities.

In Mithi a rally was taken out from press club to Kashmir Chowk, Ghansham Malhi of Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party led the rally, protestors also observed sit-in at Gulan je mori  Naukot, Wango mor on Badin- Mithi road and blocked vehicular traffic for three hours.

A similar rally was taken out in Mirpurkhas, by all nationalist parties. They marched at various roads and blocked Mirpurkhas-Hyderabad road at Ratanabad.

Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz and Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party led rallies in Sanghar and Khipro from  in cities of district Sanghar.

Coordinator of SBC Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah told Dawn.com that “the present rulers, in the lust of power, have agreed to divide the Sindh.”

Adding that, he said “example of this is dual system of local government in the province; some cities will be ruled by mayors and other districts will have district councils.

He alleged that this way the ports and other source of provincial economy will be given to one ethnical party.

Dr Qadir Magsi of Sindh Tarraqi Pasand (STP) told Dawn.com that “terrorists and extortionists have already made the lives of people in Karachi miserable. They are unable to have their business or routine chores in cities.”

Ayaz Latif Palejo of Awami Tehreek told Dawn.com that they are calm yet and observing peaceful protests and strikes, but it should not be treated their weakness. He called upon the PPP rulers to review their decision and repeal the ordinance; otherwise they will be violent and will not allow division of Sindh at any cost.

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