Five killed as Army patrols affected areas in Hyderabad

Army troops and Rangers, along with the police, on Saturday patrolled some of the affected areas of Hyderabad as the situation started moving towards normalcy with only a few incidents of firing and arson having been reported.

Five people were killed in different areas of Hyderabad late on Friday night. Protesters Hamid Panhwar and Hamal Panhwar were killed at the Tando Alam oilfield while two persons died of burn injuries when attackers torched the offices of Jhando Mari. The dead included Hajan Mari and Mumtaz Jarwar. Yar Mohammed, the gunman of a bank near Hala Naka, was also reportedly killed in violence.

The citizens are experiencing a curfew-like situation and hardships and a large number of people thronged the smaller markets and shops that opened early Saturday morning to purchase items of daily use at higher prices.

Large queues of citizens were seen in some areas where some shopkeepers opened shops in small lanes in various localities of the city and Latifabad.

The situation remained tense in Qasimabad and Husseinabad and other adjoining areas of Hyderabad.

Shortage of flour was reported while prices of fruits, vegetables and other kitchen items reached new heights because of the demand and supply gap as commodities were not being supplied on a regular basis.

The Army and Rangers along with the police conducted a flag march. However, the markets and shopping areas of the entire city remained closed for a second consecutive day while offices were closed because of three-day mourning announced by the provincial and federal governments.

Some policemen were also seen on a few roundabouts for maintenance of law and order situation on Saturday as the police went into hiding after the spread of news regarding Benazir Bhuttoís assassination. Five persons were injured in a shootout with the Rangers in Husseinabad when the Rangers prevented them from looting and arson. An exchange of fire also took place in some other parts of the city. Firing incidents were also reported from Allah Dad Chand Goth, Tando Yusuf, Badin Bus Stop and other areas of Qasimabad.

The protesters set a bus on fire near the bypass and a petrol pump at the Badin bus stop while incidents of setting tyres on fire were also reported from different places.

Traffic was also seen on roads after two days, as the situation started moving towards peace. Rush was witnessed at the only petrol pump that opened in the morning. Public transport was missing and the road and rail link remained affected even after two days and no official was available to comment as to when these links would be restored.

Meanwhile, 10 vehicles parked inside the parking area of the director general health office were torched along with other belongings of the office.

The Sindh Seed Corporation office and foreign restaurants and branches of multinational banks were also set on fire at the Auto Bhan road on Friday.