HYDERABAD, March 31: Almost all towns in Sindh remained completely closed on Thursday in response to a strike call given by the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement. By and large, the strike, which affected business activities, remained peaceful.

Ponam had given the strike call against Kalabagh dam and greater Thal canal projects, price hike, joblessness, alleged usurpation of resources of the oppressed nations by Punjab, military operations in Balochistan and Wana, NWFP, and the Gwadar port project.

Traffic on different routes of interior towns and between Hyderabad-Karachi was affected.

In Hyderabad, the strike call received a mixed response. In the Hyderabad taluka, main business and commercial centres remained opened while areas of Nasim Naggar, Qasimabad and Bhittai Naggar remained completely closed. Traffic was thin.

No untoward incident was reported.

LARKANA: A complete shutter-down strike was observed in Larkana and Shahdadkot districts on Thursday.

Reports from Warah, Ratodero, Qambar and Shahdadkot said traffic on roads remained thin and attendance in schools and offices was low.

In Ratodero, small processions were taken out. A procession was also taken out in Qambar.

The situation grew tense in Banguldero when a group of protestors blocked the Larkana-Ratodero road by burning tyres. Additional Rangers and police force were called to control the situation. Police used tear-gas and baton-charged the protesters to clear the road, injuring four of them. Police also reportedly arrested 25 people.

SUKKUR: Main business centres and bazaars in the city remained deserted as people from surrounding towns and villages could not reach there due to strike.

Main markets remained partially closed and in some areas people closed their shops.

A complete shutter-down strike was observed in Ghotki where traffic also remained suspended.

NAWABSHAH: A complete shutter-down strike was observed in the district.Vehicles remained off the road.

Police arrested 14 activists.

In a statement, Nawabshah Jeay Sindh Mahaz president Dadan Jokhio claimed that police had arrested more than 50 Ponam workers.

DADU: A complete shutter-down strike was observed in Dadu, Phulji, Sita Road, Pyaro Goth, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Mehar, Bhan Saeedabad , Sehwan, Sann, Jamshoro and Kotri towns on Thursday.

Transport services remained suspended between Dadu, Hyderabad, Moro, Johi and Larkana.

Police arrested two workers.

BADIN: A strike was observed in Badin and other towns.

Meanwhile, a boy, Taj Mohammad, succumbed to his injuries on the way to a hospital after being hit by a wagon on the Badin-Khoski road near the Leghari village when the driver sped to avoid being attacked by some miscreants. One Abdul Basit was injured in the accident who was hospitalized.

Police picked up around one dozen workers.

JACOBABAD: A complete wheel-jam and shutter-down strike was observed in the district.

KHAIRPUR: A strike was observed in Khairpur, Ranipur, Faiz Gung, Thehri, Gambat, Khuhra, Sobhodero and other towns.

The Baberloi police held three people, Amin, Allah Wadhayo and Mir Hassan, for pelting stones at vehicles on the National Highway.

SANGHAR: A partial strike was observed in the district.

Traffic remained thin while shopping centres and shops remained opened.

NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: A partial strike was observed in Naushahro Feroze, Moro, Tharushah, Mithiani, Bhirya, Halani, Bhirya Road, Padidan, Darya Khan Mari towns.

Activists of Ponam also took out a procession.

THATTA: The strike call received a positive response in Thatta.

Except for Sujawal, all bazaars, commercial and shopping centres remained closed in Thatta, Makli, Mirpur Bathoro, Daro, Jati, Gharo, Bannu and Jhok Sharif.

In Mirpur Bathoro, police resorted to aerial firing when activists forced a trader to close his shop.

The Mirpur Bathoro police registered a case against six STPP workers. Police also allegedly tortured one Hamid Kumbhar.

Taluka STPP president Ghani Mallah, Ghulam Rasool Mirjat of the JSQM and Munir Sarki of the SPSF, city JSQM president Khadim Rind, Mushtaq Khaskheli, Adil Shah and Jamal Nasir Memon were arrested in different areas.

SHIKARPUR: A complete strike was observed in the district while a partial strike was observed in Garhi Yasin, Khanpur, Madeji and Chak towns.

MIRPURKHAS: The strike call received no response in the district as all markets, bazaars and shopping centres remained opened and vehicles plied on different routes as usual.