A shutter-down strike of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) on Wednesday to protest the raid of Rangers on their party headquarters, Nine Zero, at Azizabad, exposed the division of Karachi on ethnic and linguistic lines, as the areas where Sindhi, Pashtu and Balochi speaking people live in majority remained open ignoring the strike call of MQM once considered sole political power player of the mega city.
Many areas including Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Landhi, Lyari, Mauripur, Malir, Shanti Nagar, Sachal Goth, Suhrab Goth, Gadap and Pashtu-speaking localities of Baldia and Orangi remained open. Though Saddar area was overall closed but the shops around main Empress Market were open and the public transport also remained available from Saddar Empress Market to Tower. The main bus stand of Saddar area remained closed. However, buses and vans were seen at the bus stand of Al-Asif Square in Suhrab Goth area. Petrol pumps were mostly closed; however, in some areas petrol pumps and gas stations worked normally amidst heavy rush. One of such petrol pump was seen working near Teen Hati.
However, the city remained peaceful. On Shahra-e-Pakistan, there were marks of burnt tyres between Water Pump and Kareemabad area, but this main artery like other roads was completely open for traffic. Presence of police and rangers was seen in almost all localities.
However, overall the city remained closed and its all main and wholesale markets were fully shut. Saving some areas and public transport remained off roads.
DG RANGERS ORDERS ARREST OF ‘MISCREANTS’
Sindh Rangers Director General Major General Bilal Akbar Wednesday issued orders to arrest miscreants disturbing peace in the city.
The orders were issued on the occasion when a shutter-down strike was observed in the city on the call of Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) to protest Rangers’ raid on their party headquarters Nine Zero at Azizabad.
Due to the strike, less people were seen as public transport stayed off the roads. Major markets, including Regal Saddar, Lee Market, Zainab Market, Chawla Market remained closed. A number of educational institutions also remained shut and the University of Karachi cancelled papers scheduled on the day. CNG and petrol pumps were also closed across the city.
Some protestors burnt tyres and obstructed some roads in different areas, however, these roads were later cleared. A car and one rickshaw were burnt by the protesters in Gulistan-e-Johar and Liaquatabad.
However, the Sindh Rangers DG issued strict orders to arrest miscreants who try to disturb peace in Karachi. He encouraged the citizens to immediately report any sabotage activity on Rangers Helpline 1101 so that stern and immediate action could be taken against the culprits.
LOW ATTENDANCE IN MAJOR PUBLIC HOSPITALS
Patients-care services were partially affected in all major public hospitals of Karachi on Wednesday due to tense situation in the city after Rangers raided Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Headquarters at Nine Zero.
Patients’ attendance at the out-patient departments of major hospitals, including the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, National Institute of Child Health, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Civil Hospital Karachi, AbbasiShaheedHospital, Lyari GeneralHospital and other hospitals remained thin due to unavailability of public transport.
The medical and diagnostic services in major hospitals were also partially disturbed due to low attendance of paramedical staff, nurses and doctors in healthcares owing to tense situation in the city.
However, public transport service remained suspended that compelled hospital staff to remain at their homes and a good number of medical staff of major hospitals could not reach their respective institutions.
The unavailability of medical staff partially disturbed routine operations in public healthcare centers and dozens of scheduled surgeries were postponed. However, the emergency services of different hospitals were fully functional.
An administrative official from JinnahPostgraduateMedicalCenter said the OPDs were opened as per schedule but the turnout of patients remained low due to shortage of public transport. He said emergency and OTs services in the healthcare remained fully functional.
