A shutter-down was observed in interior Sindh while the strike call against pre-census rigging received partial response in Karachi on Saturday. The strike call given by Sindh’s nationalist parties, which was backed by the Awami National Party (ANP), left routine life paralysed in the bordering areas of Karachi. Inter-provincial transport was also affected by the strike in interior parts of Sindh. In Karachi, life in Gulshan-e-Hadeed and Steel Town remained completely at a halt. Shops and business centres in the area remained closed for the entire day and some unidentified people also blocked the National Highway for traffic. However, heavy contingents of law enforcement agencies later cleared the blockades and reopened the highway.
Businesses in Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Safora Goth, Sachal Goth, Ayub Goth and Jauhar Complex also remained suspended. Shops in parts of Gulistan-e-Jauhar were reopened in the evening, but some unidentified armed men forcibly closed them down again. A brief shoot out was also reported in the area over the reopening of shops and markets. Shops and markets in Malir City, Bakra Piri and Khokharapar also remained closed. A brief exchange of fire between two groups was reported in Al-Badar Society in Malir Halt, while two men sustained bullet wounds and were rushed to a hospital for treatment. Moreover, routine life in Gadap Town and Gulshan-e-Maymar also came to a halt due to the strike.
The strike was also observed in Pashtun majority areas across the city. Parts of Baldia and Orangi towns also remained closed. Reports from interior Sindh said the strike cal had been avidly responded to. A complete strike was observed in cities and towns of Mirpurkhas region. Shops in all the markets and bazaars remained closed while petrol pumps and hotels were also closed. Routine life remained paralysed in Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Jhuddo, Tando Jan Mohammad, Naokot, Jhilori, Shadi Palli, Khaan, Kot Ghulam Mohammad areas of Sindh. Umerkot district was also completely shut down for the strike. Protest rallies were taken out by JUI, JSQM, STP and SUP against the irregularities in house counting. Tandoadam, Shahpur Chakar, Khipro, Shahdadpur and other towns of the district Sanghar also remained shut due to the strike.
