HYDERABAD, Aug 14: Around 24 people were injured in Hyderabad and Shaheed Benazirabad districts due to midnight celebratory firing on the 67th Independence Day of Pakistan on Wednesday.

The occasion was celebrated with customary zeal and fervour and rallies and functions were organised in schools, colleges, universities by political parties and government departments across the province.

However, as a sign of dissent, the Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) observed Black Day on Wednesday and while calling for shutter-down strikes along with the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) in a number of districts including Dadu, Naushahro Feroze, Khairpur and Larkana districts.

HYDERABAD: At least 20 people, including women and children, were injured after being hit by stray bullets during firing into the air at midnight.

The wounded were taken to the Liaquat University Hospital (LUH) Hyderabad branch. They included Ahtisham Ali, Shazia, Sajida Haris Ali, Javaid Ali, Arif Ahmed, Shabana, Ashiq Ali, Tariq, Nighat Begum and Naseem Ahmed.

In the morning a flag-hoisting ceremony was organised by the Hyderabad district administration at the former Zila Nazim Secretariat.

The provincial culture department organised two different programmes at the Mehran Arts Council and Zaffar Kazmi Arts Gallery inside Sindh Museum.

Meanwhile, the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Sunni Tehreek also held separate ceremonies.

Flag-hoisting ceremonies were also organised at the district headquarters of Matiari and Tando Mohammad Khan.

More functions were also organised at the Government Zubeida Girls College Hyderabad, Government Girls Degree College Kotri, Sindh University and Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro and the Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam.

NAWABSHAH: Two teenagers, a child and an elderly man were injured by firing into the air and were admitted to the Peoples University Medical Hospital.

They were identified as five-year-old Mehak, 13-year-old Sabahat, 18-year-old Cheena and 55-year-old Siraj.

LARKANA: Speakers including Larkana commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Phull and Larkana DIG Jawed Odho at the celebratory event at Commissioner’s House stressed the need for arming the nation with education to fight intolerance and terrorism.

SUKKUR: Separate events were organised throughout Sukkur, Ghotki, Jacobabad and Kandhkot-Kashmore districts. The main flag-hoisting ceremony was held at the Sukkur Municipal Stadium while another was held at the Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) headquarters.

MQM zonal workers also performed a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Jinnah Chowk Saddar.

The Jacobabad chapter of the PML-N organised a rally which emerged from Tikundi Bagh and ended at the local press club.

In Ghotki district, flag hoisting was performed at the town municipal office as the main ceremony at the district headquarters Ghotki could not be held.

THATTA: As colourful events were organised by various schools across the district, picnickers kept making their way towards Keenjhar lake for a day of amusement. However, according to the Keenjhar administration, the number of people was fewer than before because of rumours circulating on the social media about threats from dissident nationalist groups. Heavy deployment of law-enforcement agencies had been ensured at the lake for this reason.

MITHI: The main event was organised at the Government Boys High School Mithi where students from different schools delivered speeches and gave performances for Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani.

JSMM observes Black Day

In a statement issued from Hyderabad on Wednesday, JSMM chairman Shafi Burfat appealed to all nationalist parties and people to support their call for a province-wide shutter-down strike and observing a Black Day.

Following the call, shutterdown strikes were observed in Dadu, Badin, Larkana, Khairpur, Naushahro Feroze and Shaheed Benazirabad districts on the call of Jeay Sindh Mahaz, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) and the JSMM.

DADU: Various towns of the districts remained closed as traffic on Dadu-Moro, Dadu-Hyderabad and Dadu-Larkana sections of the Indus Highway remained thin. A complete shutterdown was observed in Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Juhi, Bhan, Sehwan, Manjhand, Sann, Jamshoro and Kotri towns.

BADIN: A complete shutterdown strike was observed in Badin on the call of Jeay Sindh Mahaz who were protesting against their missing workers and alleged atrocities committed on the Sindhi people.

All shops, markets and business centres remained closed since pamphlets had been delivered on Tuesday asking traders to keep their businesses closed.

LARKANA: Most of the district remained closed as police and Rangers personnel kept patrolling the main roads and conducted snap checking.

Meanwhile, demonstrations were organised by the JSQM in Larkana, Ratodero and Dokri towns.

NAWABSHAH: A complete shutter-down strike was observed throughout Shaheed Benazirabad district on Wednesday as all main markets and bazaars remained closed.

Two trailers near Qazi Ahmed on the National Highway and near Nawab Wali Mohammad while a coach near Mashaq stop were set ablaze by some miscreants who threw petrol bombs at the vehicles resulting in injuries to two people.

KHAIRPUR: Main bazaars and commercial centres remained closed till 2pm on the call of JSMM.

NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: A shutterdown strike was observed in Moro, Padidan, Kandiaro, Mithani and Derbelo towns till 1pm after which business centres began to allow customers.

Meanwhile, JSQM activists organised a protest rally in Moro against Pakistan and to demand the release of arrested workers allegedly involved in cracker attacks.