HYDERABAD, Dec 27: Although the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had not given any strike call, main markets and bazaars remained closed throughout the interior of Sindh on Saturday on the occasion of the first death anniversary of Benazir Bhutto.

Being a public holiday, the government and private offices remained closed, roads and streets wore a deserted look and thin vehicular traffic was witnessed. Tens of thousands of the PPP workers from different parts of Sindh hired buses, pickups and vans and left in convoys for Garhi Khuda Bux. Fateha Khawani and Quran Khawani were held in different towns.

In Hyderabad, the PPP activists held Quran Khawani and Fateha Khawani and distributed free food at the union council levels. Activists of UC-9 Hyderabad taluka on Friday night had organised a Mehfil-i-Naat, Quran Khawani and Fateha Khawani and distributed free food near circular building.

The Sindh National Front and the PPP-SB held a joint condolence meeting at the Yasrab Hall, Qasimabad where Quran Khawani and Fateha Khawani was also held and the participants observed one-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul.

A large number of intellectuals, poets, writers, women leaders and civil society activists, brought out a rally and staged a demonstration in front of the press club to pay homage to Benazir Bhutto.

They also lit candles and pledged to accomplish her mission of peace, democracy, women and human rights and social justice as well as the rights of Sindh.

The rally adopted several resolutions demanding of the United Nation’s investigators to expose the conspiracy leading to the assassination of Ms Bhutto and deterrent punishment to the murderers.

They urged that the war hysteria should be stopped and peaceful relations between India and Pakistan should be maintained.

Another resolution demanded that feudalism, jirgas, honour killings and tribal conflicts should be eliminated and according to the wishes of Benazir Bhutto, an industrial city should be developed at Keti Bander.

Another resolution demanded that a modern hospital on the pattern of Agha Khan University Hospital should be established in upper Sindh, which should be named after Benazir Bhutto.

It called for the promotion of female education and reservation of special seats for women in all the universities of Sindh.

In Jacobabad, shops remained closed on the call of the SPSF. Caravans of PPP leaders and workers left for Garhi Khuda Bux in cars, vans and others vehicles. Caravans also left for Garhi Khuda Bux on from different cities of Kashmore-Kandhkot including Karampur, Ghouspur, and Tangwani

In Shikarpur, business activities remained partially suspended and vehicular traffic on city and other roads remained thin.

Meanwhile, a big caravan of PPP workers and local leaders proceeded from Shikarpur to Garhi Khuda Bukhsh Bhutto. Quran Khawani was also held at PPP-SB district office where food was distributed.

In Sanghar district, PPP, SPSF and SPYO activists held Quran Khawani and Fateha Khawani in Tando Adam, Shahdadpur and Sanghar city. Shops and markets remained open and traffic was plying on the roads. However, some shops remained closed in Tando Adam.

In different towns of Badin condolence meetings and Quran Khawani were held and prayers were offered at many places.

Nawabshah and adjoining towns of Benazirabad district remained completely closed. All main markets of the city including Mohini Bazaar, Liaquat market, Katchehry Road, Masjid Road, Lal building road, Qazi Ahmed Mour, Hospital road and other areas remained completely closed.

Traffic on roads also remained thin while no vehicle plied on inter-district routes. Sakrand, Daur, Bandhi, Jam Saheb, Qazi Ahmed and Doulatpur towns also remained closed.