HYDERABAD: A partial strike was observed on Sunday in Hyderabad over police action against activists and supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in Islamabad Saturday night.

A call for the strike was given by the PTI while the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had appealed to its supporters to observe a day of mourning.

Most commercial and business centres, which usually observe Friday as weekly holiday, remained closed in Hyderabad and Latifabad while a number of shops in the Tower Market area, Faqir Ka Pir, Lajpat Road and Saddar were also closed.

Vehicular traffic also remained off the road.

The routine business and commercial activities resumed in the evening.

MQM organised a Quran Khwani at its zonal office in Bhai Khan Ki Chari to pray for the victims of the police action.Sindh PTI president Nadir Akmal Khan Leghari addressed a press conference at the local press club to condemn the federal government and police for using force against peaceful protesters and media personnel.

He, along with other party colleagues including MPA Hafeezuddin, thanked the people of Karachi, Hyderabad, Ghotki, Matli, Mirpur Mathelo, Mirpurkhas and other towns for observing a shutdown to express solidarity with the PTI.He also condemned arrest of a large number of protesters during police action in Islamabad and demanded their immediate release.

Meanwhile, four PTI activists were picked up by police during the party’s a protest sit-in at Hyderabad bypass on Sunday morning but were released in the evening.

Supporters of the PAT and Majlis-i-Wahdat-i-Muslimeen also joined in the city-wide PTI protests which started on Saturday night and were continuing till the last reports came in on Sunday evening.

The Sunni Tehreek also brought out a rally on Sunday to condemn the police action against protesters and media personnel in Islamabad.

SUKKUR: A partial strike was observed in Sukkur, Jacobabad, Kandhkot and Ubauro districts while PTI workers and supporters held rallies and sit-ins in different areas to register their outrage over police action against PTI-PAT protesters in Islamabad.

Activists and supporters of Pakistan Muslim Leaque-Quaid (PML-Q), PAT and MWM also joined in the rallies.

They expressed their full support to the joint movement of PTI and PAT for the removal of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif as what the two parties call, the first step towards end to corruption in the country.

Participants in the rally raised slogans of ‘go Nawaz Go’ and ‘Down with police’, and at several places, burning tyres were placed in the middle of thoroughfares to disrupt flow of vehicular traffic.

MIRPURKHAS: A complete strike was observed in Mirpurkhas city and several other towns of the district over the Saturday night police action against protesters in Islamabad.

No market, bazaar, shopping centre or fuel station was opened in the morning and the vehicular traffic within the city and on highways remained off the road.

MQM activists wore black armbands to mark the day of mourning on their leader’s call. They also held a Quran Khwani at the Municipal Jinnah Hall to pray for the victims of the Islamabad incident.

A shutdown was observed in Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Tando Jan Muhammad, Jhuddo, Naokot, Kot Ghulam Muhammad, Jhilori and other towns.BADIN: A complete strike in Matli and a partial shutdown in Shaheed Fazil Rahu town was observed on Sunday to condemn the police action in Islamabad against PTI-PAT protesters.

Badin city and other towns remained unaffected by the strike call.

Workers of PTI, PAT and MWM took out a rally and staged a sit-in to express their full support to the party leadership in their campaign against the sitting government.

The Matli-Badin road remained closed for traffic for about an hour due to the sit-in.

KHAIRPUR: PTI workers took out a bike rally from Nao Goth which ended at Luqman, where the participants held a protest demonstration and raised slogans against the prime minister and police.

PTI workers in Gambat also took out a procession and enforced a shutdown against the police action.

PAT workers staged a demonstration in Faiz Gunj and called for punishment to all police officers and personnel for using force against protesters in Islamabad.

DADU: PML-Q organised a protest rally in Dadu town on Sunday to condemn the Saturday night police action against protesters.

Carrying banners, placards and party flags, the participants raised slogans against the prime minister and demanded his immediate resignation.

Activists of PTI, PAT and some other parties also joined in the protest.

Published in Dawn, September 1st, 2014