Balochistan situation: Sindh nationalist parties observe strike today

24 Jan, 2005

The nationalist parties of Sindh have finalised the arrangements for their strike call of January 24, while law-enforcement agencies (LEAs) have taken extra security measures throughout the province to cope with any untoward incident. According to details, the nationalist parties of Sindh have given a strike call for January 24 (Monday) to express solidarity with the people of Balochistan, who according to them, were facing a military action.
It was decided to give the strike call during a meeting of the nationalist parties, held under the chairmanship of Sindh National Front (SNF) Chairman Mumtaz Ali Bhutto in Karachi the other day.
The meeting was attended by Bashir Khan Qureshi of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), Ali Ahmed Rind of Jeay Sindh Mahaz (JSM), Abdul Khaliq Junejo of an another faction of Jeay Sindh Mahaz, Hyder Shahani of Sindh Taraqi Pasand Party, Comrade Hussain Bux Thebo and Dr Dodo Maheri of Sindh National Council.
According to reports received from Hyderabad, Dr Qadir Magsi of Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party on Sunday asked the people of Sindh to show their indignation at an anticipated army action in Balochistan as well as the rape of a lady doctor in the Sui hospital. He asked his party activists to make the strike a success.
Meanwhile, JSQM chief Bashir Khan Qureshi, in his address to the Eid gatherings in various towns on Sunday, said that on Monday the people of Sindh would express their solidarity with their Baloch brethren, who were being made a target of what he called a state-terrorism.
He asked MQM chief Altaf Hussain to take sides with the people of Sindh to show the real solidarity with the motherland.
Separately, reports, reaching from Sukkur, said that to thwart any untoward incident the police of the Sukkur region were high alerted.
Additional forces have been summoned in all towns of Sukkur, Shikarpur, Khairpur and Larkana districts.
Fool-proof security arrangements are being made around the sensitive areas like bus stands, railway stations, airports and telephone exchanges. Bomb disposal squads, fire brigades and hospitals have been asked to be on an alert to cope with any incident.
Meanwhile, JSQM chief Bashir Khan Qureshi have claimed on Sunday besides the nationalist parties some other political parties had also ensured to participate in the strike.
He said the strike would be completely peaceful, but 'any hurdle' would not to be tolerated.
The reports from Sukkur said that Jamiatul Ulema-e-Islam Sindh General Secretary Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro has asked his party activists to take part in the proposed strike.

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