ABBOTTABAD, April 12: The struggle for a separate province would bear fruit and people of Hazara would get their identity soon, said Tehrik Sooba Hazara convener Baba Haider Zaman here on Tuesday.

He was addressing a public meeting, held to observe the first death anniversary of seven people, who were killed during riots on April 12 last year.

A complete strike was observed and all shops and bazaars remained closed in several districts of Hazara division on the occasion. Schools and colleges were closed officially but attendance in government and private offices was also thin.

The local courts wore a deserted look as president of Peshawar High Court Bar Association Abbottabad Circuit Bench Saeed Akhter had given a call for boycott of court proceedings on the day. Heavy contingent of police was deployed on all routes to avert any untoward incident. Police from all the five districts of the division were called to Abbottabad.

Almost all political parties including Pakistan People's Party, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Jamaat-i-Islami, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Sami, Tahafuzze Khatm-i-Nabuwat, Hazara Awami Ittehad, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf, Suuni Tehrik and Pakistan People's Party-Sherpao attended the meeting.

People from different cities and rural areas of Hazara division reached the venue of the public meeting in processions and rallies. The procession from Mansehra was led by former district nazim Sardar Mohammad Yousaf, former provincial ministers Tariq Khan Swati, Shehzada Gustasip Khan and former federal minister Syed Qasim Shah.

People from Haripur and Abbottabad also reached the venue in a rally, which was led by former federal ministers Gohar Ayub Khan, Omer Ayub Khan, Amanullah Khan Jadoon, former deputy speaker of National Assembly Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob, Dr Azhar Khan Jadoon and MPA Qalandar Khan Lodhi.

Baba Haider Zaman asked President Asif Zardari to pay heed to the demand of Hazara people and direct police to file FIR against those, who were involved in the killing of seven people in Abbottabad last year.About the allegations levelled against him that he was bargaining with some quarters, Baba said that he would bargain everything to win identity for the people of Hazara.

He said that rulers at national and provincial levels turned a deaf ear to the voice of Hazara people as they were busy in looting national wealth with both hands and had no time to solve the genuine problems of people.

He also touched the controversial issue of registration of Tehrik Sooba Hazara as a political party. The issue has created rift among the leaders of the Tehrik.

Baba said that he would not contest elections but would support all those, who would fight for the rights of Hazara people.