Protest against arrival of IDPs: STPP to 'block' Sindh-Punjab border traffic on June 17

Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party (STPP) on Wednesday announced to 'seal' Sindh-Punjab borders on June 17 by staging a sit-in against the arrival of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) into Sindh. Addressing protesters at Dr Ziauddin Road near PIDC House, Chairman of STPP, Dr Qadir Magsi said that his party will continue its protest against the arrival of Swat refugees into Sindh and would block the roads at provincial borders.
He said it was a conspiracy to settle IDPs in the province to convert 60 million Sindhis into minority. He said the present PPP leaders have forgotten the sacrifices of their leaders Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto and Mir Murtaza Bhutto for the democracy.
He said the current system in the country is a follow-up of the former regime, adding that police have killed three activists of STPP besides arresting many others. The firing of police on innocent STPP workers who were coming to Karachi for taking part in the protest shows that the provincial government was anti-Sindh government.
He said his partymen were also baton charged and teargassed on the Superhighway and Indus highway. He said police shot dead three activists Hasan Magsi, Mahrab Kalmati and Balch. Dr Qadir alleged that Karachi has been handed over to terrorists who are trying to expel Sindhi people from the city.
He said that days of Zardari's government are numbered and added that no PPP minister has courage to face public who voted them to power.Among others who addressed the protesters were STPP's vice chairman Ali Hasan Chandio, Sindh Hari Committee leader Azhar Jatoi, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz leader Naeem Mendhro and Hakeem Halepoto of Awami Tehreek.
Later, a five-member delegation including Dr Qadir Magsi, Ali Hasan Chandio, Azhar Jatoi, Haider Shahani and Aijaz Samtio met with Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza at Chief Minister's House and handed him a five-page memorandum.
Talking to newsmen outside the CM House, Dr Magsi said the home minister had constituted an inquiry committee headed by DIG AD Khawaja to probe into the killing of STPP activists.
A heavy contingent of police and rangers was deployed there and all the roads leading to the CM House were blocked by the administration. Earlier, Sindhi news channels aired a news about the murder of STPP Chairman, creating chaos in interior parts of the province, however, the news was later clarified.