The Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) call to observe day of mourning on Saturday failed as Karachiites rejected the party’s call to shutdown businesses in the city over the alleged extra judicial killings of its workers.
Almost all business points and markets remained open while Rangers apprehended eight workers for forcing owners to shut shops.
According to details, transport remained smooth on roads and routine business activities continued in Karachi despite the MQM’s call to shutdown all business activities to observe mourning day.
On Friday, while addressing a press conference, senior MQM leader Farooq Sattar had asked Karachiites to close their businesses and markets to observe mourning day over what he claimed were extra judicial killings of four MQM workers by Sindh Rangers near the Northern Bypass in Karachi.
After his press conference, the Sindh Rangers director general warned against the forced shutdown business and any other activities in Sindh, particularly in Karachi.
“We cannot allow anyone to bring life in the metropolis to a paralyzing halt,” he had said in a statement.
On Saturday, the Rangers arrested eight miscreants reportedly affiliated with MQM for forcing traders to shut down markets in different areas of the metropolitan city. The suspects were arrested from different areas, including Liaquatabad Number 4, Karimabad and Orangi Sector 5.
A Rangers statement said the suspects would be produced before anti-terrorism court (ATC).
Almost all business centres including Saddar, Electronics Market, Bolton Market and Empress Market remained open. Traffic flow was reported normal. Public transport and private vehicles moved without interruptions on roads.
A spokesman for the Rangers praised residents of the metropolis for dismissing the strike call and threats of those “who are enemies of the city’s peace”.
He added that the Rangers and people of Karachi stood together for peace in the city.