The markets were closed and the traffic was thin on the roads after the Jamat-i-Islamai called a strike here on Wednesday against the killing of its leader Dr Pervaiz Mehmood, the former town nazim, and release of the anti Islam movie.
Protesters burnt tires and blocked roads in various parts of the city including Patel Para, New Karachi, Nazimabad, and Lyari. They pelted the vehicles by stones and also burned tyres at Star Gate on Sharah-e-Faisal.
The day dawned with aerial firing in old city areas while hundreds protesters took to street in Lee Market, Lyari and adjoining areas.
Shops, markets and petrol pumps remained closed in most parts of the city.
The strike was announced by Karachi JI chief Muhammad Hussain Mehanti at an emergency press conference on Tuesday night at the Karachi Press Club against Mehmood’s murder, who was gunned down by unknown armed men in Orangi town on Monday night, and release of the anti-Islam film.
Police had arrested dozens of JI activists during a crackdown and conducted raids on the residences of JI leaders.
The JI leaders have alleged that Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the coalition party of the government in Sindh and Center, was behind the killing of Mehmood.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Traders’ organizations, Sunni Tehreek, Awami Tehrik, Awami National Party (ANP), Jamiat-i-Ullema Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) and several others party have also announced to support the strike.
The JI supporters staged sit-in outside the Chief Minister House after Mehmood’s funeral prayer on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, unknown men torched two shops in New Karachi while a truck was also set on fire in Quaidabad area of the city. There were also reports of aerial firing in some parts of the city.
