NAWABSHAH, June 7: Hundreds of truck and trailer drivers blocked the National Highway in protest against Qazi Ahmed police for beating up a driver on Saturday. They parked their vehicles on both sides of the highway at Karimabad near Doulatpur.

They told reporters that the ASI Abdul Sattar Mallah of Qazi Ahmed police station stopped a trailer (JU-4365) when it crossed a police mobile, thrashed its driver Mohammed Yousuf and snatched from him Rs20,000 cash and a mobile phone. They said police excess against drivers was increasing with full immunity.

Officials of Motorway and Qazi Ahmed police reached the spot and held negotiations with them. They refused to end the blockade until action against police officials was not initiated.

The SPO Doulatpur, Ramzan when contacted expressed his ignorance about the incident and denied blocking of the highway. Commuters travelling towards Punjab and Karachi faced difficulties due to traffic jam for more than two hours.

Later, the SPO Doulatpur reached there and assured protesters of justice on which the road was reopened to traffic.

LAC: The Lawyers Action Committee Nawabshah has appealed to Chief of the Army Staff to reverse November 3 actions and help in removing difference between the Army and public.

In a press statement on Saturday, President Sindh Lawyers Action Committee Syed Hassan Tariq advocate urged the COAS to take back November 3, actions which will automatically reinstate judiciary, including the Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Choudhry. He said the nation will pay tribute and support Army. He expressed the hope that the Army would foil all conspiracies against the country with the support of the nation.

RALLY: Dozens of growers of Jheemal minor here on Saturday continued token hunger strike, took out a rally, and demonstrated outside the press club on fourth consecutive day to protest non-availability of water.

The rally started from Gajrah wah at Sanghar Road and after passing through main roads culminated at the press club. Protesters carrying banners and placards raised slogans demanding water to their minor. Protesting growers told reporters that 4,000 acres of land with 22 watercourses at Jheemal minor had no water since months.

They said that sowing of cotton had been badly affected and their families were starving. They said that they had requested executive engineer Nusrat Irrigation Division several times for water supply to their canal but in vain.

They alleged the officials of Nusrat Irrigation Division were selling water to influential landlords of Gajrah wah. District President PPP and MPA, Ghulam Qadir Chandio reached there and held negotiations with the protesters.

The MPA spoke to irrigation authorities and assured to resolve growers’ problems on which they ended the strike.

Opinion

Editorial

PTI in disarray
Updated 30 Nov, 2024

PTI in disarray

PTI’s protest plans came abruptly undone because key decisions were swayed by personal ambitions rather than political wisdom and restraint.
Tired tactics
30 Nov, 2024

Tired tactics

Matiullah's arrest appears to be a case of the state’s overzealous and misplaced application of the law.
Smog struggle
30 Nov, 2024

Smog struggle

AS smog continues to shroud parts of Pakistan, an Ipsos survey highlights the scope of this environmental hazard....
Solidarity with Palestine
Updated 29 Nov, 2024

Solidarity with Palestine

The wretched of the earth see in the Palestinian struggle against Israel a mirror of themselves.
Little relief for public
29 Nov, 2024

Little relief for public

INFLATION, the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services over a given period of time, has receded...
Right to education
29 Nov, 2024

Right to education

IT is troubling to learn that over 16,500 students of the University of Karachi (KU) have defaulted on fee payments...