Demonstrations and sit-ins: Shutters down as nationalists protest MQM demands
Cars passing through Hyderabad Bypass were pelted with stones, at least four people sustained minor injuries .
SUKKUR/HYDERABAD:
Shutters, in most of parts of the province, were down as members, workers and activists of political and religious parties took to the streets to protest the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) demand for more administrative units in the province.
Lower Sindh
A complete strike was observed in Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas on the call of the Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT). The nationalist party had the full support of several political and religious parties who wanted to protest the MQM’s demand of dividing Sindh into multiple provinces.
Party workers, especially from the womens’ wing, forced people to close down for the day. Several cars passing through Hyderabad Bypass were also pelted with stones. At least four people sustained minor injuries as a result and a suspect was also arrested. Inter-district traffic on the highway and roads was thin while several universities and schools in Jamshoro, Nawabshah, Hyderabad and other districts remained closed.
QAT President Ayaz Latif Palijo rejected the MQM’s demand to create new provinces in Sindh. According to QAT’s Shaukat Sarewal, five of their party workers, including the president of Malir district, Arshad Baloch, were arrested in Karachi. Some other workers were also detained in Tando Allahyar and Mirpurkhas on Thursday.
Upper Sindh
Parts of Upper Sindh, including Sukkur, Rohri, Pannu Aqil, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Larkana and Dadu, remained partially shut following the QAT’s call. Shutters remained down in Kashmore, Kandhkot, Shikarpur, Kambar-Shahdadkot and Naushero Feroze.
In Jacobabad, a rally was held by the Sindhyani Tehreek from the Shaheed Allah Bux Park to National Highway. The protesters shouted slogans against the division of Sindh. Protesters condemned the MQM’s statements and said that Sindh was their motherland and they would never let anyone divide it. They added that such statements were part of a conspiracy to widen the gap between the Sindhis. “We are the sons and daughters of this soil,” they said. “We will not let them divide Sindh.”
Several other rallies were also organised as part of the strike in Khairpur, Ghotki and Larkana.
JSQM to protest on Sunday
The Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) has also decided to protest against the MQM’s demands. The grouping will be staging a sit-in outside the MQM’s offices in four districts of northern Sindh from October 26. The nationalist party said that if the MQM did not withdraw its demand to divide Sindh after the protests, it might have to consider laying siege to the MQM’s Karachi headquarters - Nine Zero.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 24th, 2014.
Shutters, in most of parts of the province, were down as members, workers and activists of political and religious parties took to the streets to protest the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) demand for more administrative units in the province.
Lower Sindh
A complete strike was observed in Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas on the call of the Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT). The nationalist party had the full support of several political and religious parties who wanted to protest the MQM’s demand of dividing Sindh into multiple provinces.
Party workers, especially from the womens’ wing, forced people to close down for the day. Several cars passing through Hyderabad Bypass were also pelted with stones. At least four people sustained minor injuries as a result and a suspect was also arrested. Inter-district traffic on the highway and roads was thin while several universities and schools in Jamshoro, Nawabshah, Hyderabad and other districts remained closed.
QAT President Ayaz Latif Palijo rejected the MQM’s demand to create new provinces in Sindh. According to QAT’s Shaukat Sarewal, five of their party workers, including the president of Malir district, Arshad Baloch, were arrested in Karachi. Some other workers were also detained in Tando Allahyar and Mirpurkhas on Thursday.
Upper Sindh
Parts of Upper Sindh, including Sukkur, Rohri, Pannu Aqil, Ghotki, Jacobabad, Larkana and Dadu, remained partially shut following the QAT’s call. Shutters remained down in Kashmore, Kandhkot, Shikarpur, Kambar-Shahdadkot and Naushero Feroze.
In Jacobabad, a rally was held by the Sindhyani Tehreek from the Shaheed Allah Bux Park to National Highway. The protesters shouted slogans against the division of Sindh. Protesters condemned the MQM’s statements and said that Sindh was their motherland and they would never let anyone divide it. They added that such statements were part of a conspiracy to widen the gap between the Sindhis. “We are the sons and daughters of this soil,” they said. “We will not let them divide Sindh.”
Several other rallies were also organised as part of the strike in Khairpur, Ghotki and Larkana.
JSQM to protest on Sunday
The Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) has also decided to protest against the MQM’s demands. The grouping will be staging a sit-in outside the MQM’s offices in four districts of northern Sindh from October 26. The nationalist party said that if the MQM did not withdraw its demand to divide Sindh after the protests, it might have to consider laying siege to the MQM’s Karachi headquarters - Nine Zero.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 24th, 2014.