The already tensed Karachi descended into fear and panic after the news about a two-day strike call by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) spread on Thursday.
The said news was furthered by two local Urdu news channels when they aired the announcement of the strike by the MQM for Friday and Saturday over the targeted killings of citizens, including political activists.
However, no formal announcement came from the MQM leadership as the meeting of the party’s Rabita Committee was underway.
However, the rumour did its part and compelled the citizens, particularly employees of various offices, traders and businessmen, to rush home.
Resultantly, massive traffic gridlocks on almost all the major arteries of the metropolis were observed.
Moreover, hundreds of people, particularly motorcyclists, were seen at filling stations seeking petrol or gas for their vehicles, but the situation worsened when many petrol pumps suddenly closed their pumps.
In addition, scuffles were also witnessed at some of the petrol pumps due to their sudden closure, and police and Rangers personnel were called in to control the situation.
Meanwhile, traders of all major markets, including the Saddar Electronics Market, Tariq Road and Jamia Cloth, were compelled to shut their businesses due to deteriorating law and order situation across the city.
By dint of the rumour of the MQM observing a two-day strike until the end of the present government, a massive disorder was observed in the city in the evening, which was quite visible from the hurried closure of all major commercial markets and traffic jams on the Shahrah-e-Faisal, MA Jinnah Road and University Road among others.
Later, the tension ended after a press briefing by MQM’s Raza Haroon who announced that the party members in the provincial assembly would march from the Karachi Press Club to the Sindh Chief Minister House in a peaceful manner to protest the killings of innocent people.
Nevertheless, the clarification by Haroon did not result in resumption of petrol or gas supply to the citizens.
