Amid political flux, protests continue on second day

Demonstrations result in partial shutdown, gridlocks in several areas.

SUKKUR/ HYDERABAD/ KARACHI: Sporadic protests continued across the province for the second day running as Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) workers took to the streets against the apex court order to arrest Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court had directed the National Accountability Bureau to arrest 16 suspects, including the premier, who have been accused of receiving kickbacks and commission in setting up rental power projects in the country. The court order triggered protests throughout Sindh.

On Wednesday also, protesters carrying the flags of Peoples Youth - the youth wing of Pakistan Peoples Party - roamed the streets across Karachi. Armed men riding motorcycles fired shots in the air in different areas, forcing shopkeepers to shut down their businesses.

The protesters also burnt tyres and blocked Sharae Faisal near the FTC building. Their protest caused a massive traffic jam and vehicles could be seen in a bumper-to-bumper gridlock till Korangi Road.

The protesters dispersed within an hour and the road was opened for traffic, said SP Usman Bajwa, adding that there was no need to register the case as the protest did not go out of hand.

On Lasbella road, a similar protest caused another traffic jam in the adjoining areas, including Nazimabad, Liaquatabad and SITE. Several other protests were staged in Rizvia, Gulbahar, Old Golimar area, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Pehlwan Goth, Safora Goth and Korangi, where commercial activities remained partially disturbed.

Activists of a student union disrupted the semester examinations at the Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology. Some workers also misbehaved with the faculty members and students after entering the exam halls.

Speaker senses conspiracy

Although Hyderabad remained unaffected by the protests, Matiari, Thatta, Badin and Benazirabad districts remained shut. Rallies and demonstrations were also organised in the towns of Umerkot, Tharparkar, Sanghar and Mirpurkhas districts. “The judgment was pending for a year and selecting the date of hearing was in the hands of the chief justice,” observed Sindh Assembly Speaker Nisar Khuhro while talking to reporters in Hyderabad. He was also suspicious at the synchronisation of the order with the first day of Minhajul Quran International’s sit-in in Islamabad.

Upper Sindh

The ruling party’s activists forced the shopkeepers in Khairpur, Mirpur Mathelo, Thul, Kandhkot, Kashmore, and Larkana to close their shops. The businessmen refusing to abide by the protesters’ demands were warned with dire consequences.

In Larkana, women belonging to the PPP were led by Nasiban Channa on a protest march through the main roads of the city. They also staged a demonstration at Bagh-e-Jinnah Chowk.

In Kashmore, party activists gathered near Dera Morr and blocked the highway for around two hours. The situation remained normal, however, in many cities, including Sukkur, Rohri, Pano Aqil, Ghotki, Daharki, Shikarpur and Moro.

Pro-SC demonstrations

There were some rallies in support of the apex court’s order also. The Pakistan Muslim League (Likeminded) workers moved through the Mithi town of Tharparkar shouting slogans in favour of the Supreme Court. Nationalist leaders, Pakistan Muslim League-Functional and National Peoples Party have welcomed the court order and have demanded holding the elections without delay.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2013.