LARKANA, Jan 3: On the call of the Citizens' Action Committee, a complete strike was observed in Qambar on Monday to demand arrest of the killers of four protesting residents.

Vehicles plying on different routes in the town adopted roads on its outskirts. A heavy contingent of police called from Larkana and other sub-divisional headquarters remained at the police station, fearing backlash from the protestors.

Action committee leaders Bhao Dur Mohammad Buriro, Deedar Wadho led a procession that emerged from the Mastano Chowk. The residents, wearing black armbands, marched through main roads of the town and later assembled at the Larkana-Shahdadkot road.

Speaking on the occasion, the protesters criticized the delay in arrest of the killers of Ali Madad Magsi, Riaz Huussain Buriro, Nasir Khanzada and Abdul Fatah Tunio.

They accused police of highhandedness and condemned them for opening fire on people on Dec 24 while holding a demonstration. They also demanded that district status of Qambar should be restored.

Meanwhile, a group of activists of the People's Party Parliamentarians continued their protest against the incident and observed a hunger strike on Monday. They also demanded arrest of the killers and restoration of district status of Qambar.

EMPLOYEES: The Sindh Highways Employees Union (CBA) observed a token hunger strike outside the press club here on Monday, demanding acceptance of its 11-point charter of demands.

The employees, led by union general-secretary Manzoor Ahmad Aheer, demanded that the Sindh government should issue the notification of lifting ban on recruitment. They said children of retired and expired employees should be given preference in recruitment.

They criticized the difference in service structures of employees of Sindh and the other provinces and demanded equal benefits. They said the Sindh highways department should be entrusted to undertake repairs of Super, Indus and National highways in the province. They announced to stage a protest rally in Hyderabad on Jan 6.