The nationalists’ call for strike against the Sindh Peoples Local Government Ordinance (SPLGO) 2012 fell on deaf ears as residents of Karachi failed to respond to it on Thursday.
The metropolis remained open for all types of routine activities, and shops and markets in the financial hub remained open for business throughout the day.
All government, semi-government and private offices also worked per routine, while academic activities in all public and private educational institutes were also not disturbed in any way.
Availability of public transport was also not a problem, while all petrol pumps and CNG stations in the city remained open for customers.
Nationalist leaders of Sindh had formed the Sindh Save Committee (SSC) against the SPLGO and announced a province-wide strike in opposition of the new ordinance. However, the strike of the nationalists failed in Karachi as major political parties of the city called off their support because of the factory fire tragedy that killed over 280 people on Tuesday.
The PML-N, ANP, JI and PTI, who had earlier supported the SSC strike against the SPLGO 2012, called off their support due to large number of deaths in the fire incident.
The mentioned parties announced a day of mourning instead of strike.
However, the nationalist parties and member parties of SSC refused to call off the strike and announced a complete shutter down across the province against SPLGO 2012.
The Sindh United Party (SUP), Jeay Sindh Tehreek (JST), Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), Sindh National Movement (SNM) and Sindh Taraki Pasand Party (STPP) took part in the strike.
The National Peoples Party (NPP), Awami Tehreek (AT) and Pakistan Muslim League-Functional (PML-F) also announced support for the nationalists’ strike call against the SPLGO 2012, besides announcing a day of mourning over the Karachi carnage.
A complete shutter down was, however, observed in some parts of Sindh, including Dadu, Umarkot, Jamshoro and Badin, while a partial strike was observed in Sukkur, Larkana, Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad.
In Karachi, some Sindhi-dominated areas were closed partially to support the strike. Parts of Steel Town, Safora Goth, Ayub Goth, Sachal Goth and Hussain Hazara Goth were closed down to show solidarity with the nationalists.
“The strike failed in Karachi because those who were tasked with closing the metropolis called of their support at the eleventh hour under cover of the Baldia Town carnage,” said All Karachi Tajir Ittehad ((AKTI) chief Atiq Mir, adding, “In Karachi, strikes are observed with power, not appeals.”
Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI) chief Irshad Bukhari said transporters also boycotted the nationalists’ strike.
“The transporters decided to bring their vehicles on roads after major political parties called off their support to the nationalists’ strike,” he added.
