The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Wednesday withdrew its call made earlier today for an indefinite shutter-down strike in Sindh, particularly Karachi, Hyderabad and Nawabshah, a private TV channel reported.
Earlier, the MQM had given a call to the business community, traders and transporters of Sindh to voluntarily keep their businesses closed for an indefinite period, in reaction to government’s ‘inaction’ towards nabbing the culprits of Abbas Town carnage.
The decision was announced after the MQM Rabita Committee met following an earlier news conference in which it was announced that the party had started its ‘peaceful democratic movement’ in which the appeal to shut businesses and public transport for an indefinite period was made. During the party’s second news conference on Wednesday, MQM leader Raza Haroon said the party’s peaceful protest movement would continue and the nation would be made aware of the future course of action soon.
Businesses and petrol pumps have begun to reopen across the metropolis, following the withdrawal of the shutter-down strike. Public transport has also started to come back on the city’s roads and streets.
Earlier, panic gripped Karachi after unidentified gunmen forced shopkeepers to close down their businesses. The presence of big shots such as Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani and Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in the violence-hit city added fuel to the rumours that something politically bad was going to take place.
Tuesday’s ban on pillion riding added to the misery of people and they commuters walked to reach safer places in the absence of public transport that was driven off the roads by the Karachi Transport Ittehad fearing arson attacks. Despite this, three vehicles were set on fire at different areas of the city.
However, normalcy returned after the MQM appealed to the people for resuming their routine activities. A stampede was observed in city and massive traffic jams were reported from all parts of the city as the residents rushed to reach their homes.
The shops, markets, petrol pumps and CNG stations were closed down hurriedly and very after half an hour there was no traffic on city’s roads. The businesses started to close at 2:30pm and before MQM Coordination Committee press briefing at 4pm the entire city wore a deserted look.
Addressing reporters, MQM Coordination Committee member Raza Haroon said, “Last day, the MQM Coordination Committee held meetings in London and Karachi to devise future course of action if the government failed to arrest the culprits after passing deadline given by MQM chief Altaf Hussain.”
“It was decided that MQM would launch peaceful protest movement as the government had failed to arrest those involved in act of terrorism at Abbas Town,” he announced.
“MQM appeals to traders, industrialists and people belonging to all walk of lives to boycott routine activities and take part in MQM peaceful movement,” he appealed.
“We see that how government befools public by presenting reports of fake arrest,” he cautioned.
Soon after the MQM’s announcement, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon vowed that no one would be allowed to close the businesses forcefully.
“Police and Rangers have been directed to take stern action against those who were found in forceful closure of shops in the city,” he added. He appealed to the business community to keep their businesses open.
Rangers arrested two people who were involved in forceful closure of shops in DHA.
Later, MQM Coordination Committee Member Raza Haroon appeared on scene once again and appealed the traders and industrialists to resume their routine activities.
After the appeal, petrol pumps and CNG stations were opened. Public transport also plied the city roads and shops in some parts of the city were opened. The private institutions, which earlier decided to keep schools closed for indefinite period owing to the MQM’s peaceful protest movement, announced to open schools on Thursday (today).
