HYDERABAD, April 30: Life in most cities and towns of the interior of Sindh came to a standstill on Tuesday in response to a strike call given by the Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz-Bashir (JSQM-B) in protest against what it believed ‘a false report’ submitted by the government on the viscera test of its chairman, Bashir Khan Qureshi.

A partial closure was observed in Hyderabad but Jamshoro, Matiari, Tando Allahyar and Tando Mohammad Khan observed a complete shutterdown and wheeljam.

Chandni Chowk and Gul Centre in Hyderabad and all markets and shops in Qasimabad remained closed and vehicular traffic off the roads. Educational institutions in most towns of Hyderabad district also remained closed.

JSQM-B vice chairman Akash Mallah speaking to protesters here on Tuesday urged the government to hand over the viscera of Mr Qureshi to the party leadership for a fresh test from an international laboratory because the party believed that he was poisoned to death.

He claimed that the government had produced a false lab report that declared the cause of death ‘cardiac arrest’. He also called for registration of the FIR of the alleged murder as per the statements of the deceased leader’s heirs.

LARKANA: A complete shutterdown was observed in Larkana and Qambar-Shahdadkot districts, where all roads wore a deserted look. Business and trade centres as well as markets shops, commercial areas and petrol pumps remained closed.

JSQM activists Muzaffar Sandano, Athar Soomro, Aziz Shaikh and others assembled outside the Jinnah Bagh where they burnt tyres and staged a sit-in.

In Qambar, JSQM activists led by Mumtaz Ali Lakho and Abdulllah Soomro took to the streets, burnt tyres and made speeches at Bhutto Chowk and outside the local press club.

In Shahdadkot, JSQM workers led by Zulfikar Mangi and Abdul Waheed gathered at the Koto-Moto Chowk, burnt tyres and delivered speeches. They also staged a sit-in and raised slogans against the government.

THATTA: The entire district observed a shutdown as all business, trade and commercial centres and educational institutions were kept closed. No public transport was available to commuters in Thatta, Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Tando Jan Mohammed, Jhuddo, Noakot, Kot Ghulam Mohammad and the adjoining villages till late in the afternoon.

NAWABSHAH: A complete strike was observed throughout Shaheed Benazirabad district where all the main markets and bazaars, including Sarafa Bazaar, Liaqat Market, Mohni Bazaar, Chakra Bazaar, Masjid Road, Kutchehry Road, Sakrand Road, Qazi Ahmed Road, Lal Building Road and others business and commercial areas remained closed.

Vehicular traffic was off the road and all the government and private schools remained closed.

Sakrand, Qazi Ahmed, Daur, Bandhi, Daulatpur, Jam Sahab and other towns also were also closed.

A bus driver, Sabir Pathan, was injured when unidentified armed persons fired on the Karachi-bound passenger bus near Daur.

JSQM activists took out a rally and held a sit-in near Sakrand on the National Highway.

NAUSHAHRO FEROZE: A complete shutterdown was observed in Naushahro Feroze, Moro Kandiaro, Bhiria city, Bhiria Road, Darya Khan Mari, Tharushah, Derbelo, Khan Wahan, Muhabat Dero, Halani, Kotri Kabir and Mehrabpur.

Office-bearers, workers and supporters of the JSQM took out rallies in the towns raising slogans against the government.

DADU: JSQM activists, including Ameer Ali Shah, addressing a rally taken out in the town urged the caretaker government to get the blood samples of Mr Qureshi rechecked from a reliable laboratory and help register a murder FIR.

Business outlets, bazaars, markets, petrol pumps and CNG stations remained closed in Johi, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Mehar, Bhan Syedabad, Sehwan, Sann, Manjhand, Jamshoro and Kotri towns. Traffic on Dadu-Hyderabad, Dadu-Moro and Dadu-Larkana roads remained thin due to the strike.

KHAIRPUR: Life remained paralysed in Khairpur city and other parts of the district on Tuesday.

Police arrested about 15 JSQM activists in Khairpur but released them after a few hours.

Main bazaars, markets and business places remained closed in the district from the morning.

JSQM district president Akbar Makol told reporters that more than 20 activists had been arrested by the A-section police and 10 others by the B-section police in Khairpur.

JSQM activists staged a protest demonstration on the National Highway near Shah Hussain Chowk and blocked the highway for some time.

The main business towns of Khairpur district, including Gambat, Ranipur, Hingorja, Setharja, Pir Jo Goth and Thari Mirwah also remained shut.

SHIKARPUR: A complete shutterdown strike was observed in this town on JSQM call. Activists and supporters of the party took out a rally and held a demonstration. They blocked several roads by placing burning tyres on thoroughfares.