MIANWALI, Jan 28: A complete shutter down strike was observed here on Monday against the planned inclusion of Mianwali district in the proposed Bahawalpur Janoobi Punjab province.

All markets in the district remained closed and a large number of people joined the protest rally and a sit-in at Ikram Shaheed Chowk in the Mianwali City.

Lawyers continued their protest for the second consecutive day on Monday that would also continue on Tuesday (today).

The protesting people blocked traffic for four hours on the roads leading to Bannu, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi and raised slogans against the government.

District bar president Nasrullah Khan, MPAs Ali Haidar Noor Khan and Malik Feroze Joiya, Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf (PTI) leader and former MNA Inamullah Niazi, Jamaat-i-Islami district chief Hafiz Javed Iqbal, traders` representative Sanaullah Khan and Mianwali Press Club Chairman Abdul Majeed Zahid held a meeting at the local press club on Sunday night and decided to accelerate the campaign against the inclusion of the Mianwali district in the planned new province against people and their representatives` will.

On Monday, a big number of people from all walks of life gathered at Ikram Shaheed Chowk and blocked traffic for four hours.

The protesters gave the government a 24-hour ultimatum to withdraw the proposal of inclusion of Mianwali in the new province otherwise they would block traffic on all roads leading to the district.

SARGODHA: The District Bar Association, Sargodha, observed strike on Monday to show resentment against inclusion of Bhakkar and Mianwali in the proposed province.