Uncertainty and chaos gripped the metropolis following the hanging of Mumtaz Qadri, the self-confessed killer of former Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer, on Monday and cost the national exchequer a huge sum of Rs 5 billion.
Shops, markets and business centres in the financial hub shut and opened many times after Qadri’s supporters and sympathisers came out on roads to observe black day over his hanging.
Both supporters and sympathisers of Qadri came out of their houses in the early hours of the day and set tyres on fire on many major roads and roundabouts to protest Qadri’s execution.
Traffic on roads also thinned out as public transport service suspended and resumed a number of times. Petrol pumps remained shut the whole day, leaving private vehicle owners in a fix. Office-goers faced problems to reach their workplaces amid absence of public transport and closure of fuel pumps.
However, shops in various vicinities of the port city reopened in the evening and public transport came back on track to help stranded commuters reach their destinations.
“The markets were opened as per schedule in the morning, but closed again before afternoon following rumours of riots in the city,” All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI) Chairman Ateeq Mir said.
“The markets, which were opened amid this uncertain situation were closed forcibly after lunch break,” he added.
“Only 20 per cent business was reported from the city’s markets,” Mir said, adding that “A complete shutter down cost traders Rs 3 billion, but as per reports Rs 2.5 billion losses were reported,” said Mir.
“We are uncertain that we would be allowed to reopen business on Tuesday (today), because not only traders, citizens are also in a state of confusion amid protests against Qadri’s hanging,” Mir observed, adding “Protest is the right of citizens, but I will request religious leaders to allow traders to resume business activities on Tuesday,” he said.
An office-bearer of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), who requested not to be named, said, “The industrial-wheel of the financial hub affected a little as many of workers could not assure their presence in industries and factories they were working for.”
“I am not able to tell you the accumulated loss, but the strike and protests caused losses in billions to the national exchequer,” he maintained.
Another KCCI office-bearer estimated losses of about Rs 2 billion.
Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI) President Irshad Bukhari said, “Panicked transporters took their vehicles back to stands to avoid any untoward happening.” He said, “Fear that their vehicles might be burnt in protest forced transporters to suspend transport service.”
