Supreme Court verdict sparks protests in Sindh
Thursday, February 26, 2009
By our correspondent
HYDERABAD: Activists of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday took out rallies and staged demonstrations in interior Sindh against the Supreme Courts decision, declaring Nawaz Sharif and Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif ineligible to hold any public office.
A demonstration was staged outside the Hyderabad Press Club, which was led by PML-N central leader Raees Allah Bukhsh Magsi. The protesters were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against the SC decision and in support of the Sharif brothers and an independent judiciary.
Addressing the protesters, Magsi said the disqualification of the Sharif brothers would lead to political instability in the country and accelerate the movement for the restoration of the deposed judges, including chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
Our Larkana correspondent adds: PML-N District President Babu Sarfraz Khan Jatoi led a protest rally taken out against the disqualification. The rally marched on various roads, chanting slogans against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Addressing the protesters, Sarfraz strongly condemned the court decision. Later, enraged protesters burnt tyres and staged a sit-in for several hours. Prominent figures participating in the rally were Ahmed Bux Korai, MB Jatoi, Nazir Ahmed Chandio, Zulfiqar Sahito and Saleem Mirani.
Our Nawabshah correspondent adds: The PML-N office-bearers and members took out a protest rally and marched on the city roads where they managed to shut down some shops. Addressing the rally, Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Muhammad Saleem, Muzammil Qureshi, Abdul Hameed Khosa, Suhail Rasheed, Abdul Sattar Arain spoke against the verdict.
Our Khairpur correspondent adds: A protest rally began from the house of PML-N Sindh chief Syed Ghous Ali Shah and terminated at the Press Club, Khairpur, where PML-N District President Abdul Majeed Shaikh, General Secretary Ghulam Hyder Phulpoto, Syed Nawaz Ali Shah and others said the decision was against the people of Pakistan.
Our Jacobabad correspondent adds: A PML-N workers rally started from the district office of the party under the leadership of PML-N provincial leaders Aziz Abro and Mohammad Akram Rind and passed through various roads before turning into a public meeting at the Press Club, Jacobabad. The participants of the rally raised slogans in favour of the Sharif brothers and against the SC verdict, calling it unfair.
PML-N workers and supporters also took out rallies in Kandhkot, Shikarpur and Rojhan Mazari.
Our Badin correspondent adds: Irate activists of the PML-N took out a small protest rally from the Fruit Chowk, which terminated at the Badin Press Club under the leadership of Tauseef Ahmed and Saleem Arain.
The activists said the decision was taken to foil the long march by the lawyers. The Central Information Secretary of Sindh Peoples Youth Tanveer Ahmed Arain, meanwhile, said the statements of Nawaz Sharif against Asif Ali Zardari were very unhelpful and based on false claims. He said Nawaz was indulging in contempt of court because disqualification was a decision of the Supreme Court and not that of President Asif Ali Zardari.
Our Naushahro Feroze correspondent adds: Dozens of activists of the PML-N took out a rally that ended outside the Naushahro Feroze Press Club. The rally started from the PML-N district office, went round the entire city before terminating at the press club. The rally was led by Manzoor Mughal, district president PML-N, Sikandar Rind, Zahid Rind, Fawad Khan and others. The participants were raising slogans against the PCO judges.
Supreme Court verdict sparks protests in Sindh