NAWABSHAH, May 14: No improvement was witnessed on Tuesday in the strife-torn city of Nawabshah, where no business, commercial, educational and other activities could be resumed since clashes between activists and supporters of the Pakistan Peoples Party 9PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on polling day (Saturday).

Three supporters of the MQM and one of the PPP lost their lives and over a dozen other people sustained wounds in armed clashes which erupted over allegations and counter allegations of rigging in the election.

Police, Rangers and army personnel have been patrolling streets of the city to restore order but they have succeeded to the extent of preventing a flare up. Most areas of the city wore a deserted look and vehicular traffic remained off the roads while tension and fear continued to grip troubled areas for a fourth consecutive day.

On Monday afternoon, some markets, bazaars and shops were opened as clashes had stopped and intermittent firing into the air, continuing since Saturday, died down.

However, groups of political activists re-emerged on various roads to force businessmen and traders to pull down the shutters.

No business establishment, bazaar, market or shop was opened on Tuesday morning. Teachers and students also did not turn up at any educational institution.

Reports from the town said that sound of heavy firing reverberated almost all localities of the town creating fear and panic among citizens.

Normal food and water supplies to hospitals could not be made for the four days due to the closure and logistic problems while a number of households were also reported to be running short of food and other essential items.

Meanwhile, Shaheed Benazirabad district SSP Ghulam Sarwar Bhayo has been transferred while City DSP Noor Mohammed Marri and A-Section SHO Sudheer Bhayo have been suspended for their failure to maintain law and order in Nawabshah.

The newly-posted SSP, Javed Jaskani, and City DSP, Aijaz Tareen, took over their respective charge and said that normalcy would return to the city by Tuesday evening. They said stern action would be taken against law-breakers.

MQM stance: The local chapter of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement condemned the armed attacks, firing and killing of its three supporters, demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.

In a press release issued here on Tuesday, MQM zonal leader Shiraz Masood said that workers of his were being arrested, and alleged that the police were supporting and harbouring the assailants.

Strike in T.M. Khan A complete strike was observed in Tando Mohammad Khan town on Tuesday on a call given by the Pakistan Muslim League Functional in protest against alleged rigging in the PS-53 election, APP adds.

All markets including Shahi Bazaar, Ban Bazaar, Pakistan Chowk, Chandni Chowk, Anaj Mandi, vegetable and fruit markets and Murtaza Chowk remained closed and vehicular traffic off the road.

Groups of PML-F activists and supporters took to the streets and took out several rallies from different areas of the town and converged on the local press club to register their protest over alleged rigging. Some PML-F leaders spoke to the participants and said that the party rejected the results of election on PS-53.