An unannounced strike against issuance of contempt of court notice to Muttehida Quami Movement (MQM) chief, Altaf Hussein, brought the normal course of life in Karachi, and parts of interior of Sindh to standstill amid incidents of aerial firing, and patrolling of armed youths in the streets throughout the day on Saturday.
Armed youths riding motorbikes took the control of the streets of Karachi from Friday evening resorting to aerial firing and forcing the shopkeepers to pull their shutters down. Public transport too disappeared from the roads on Friday evening following burning of various vehicles in different parts of the metropolis.
Many parts of Karachi like Burns Road, M.A Jinnah Road, Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Landhi, Korangi, Orangi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Guru Mander and others rattled by gunshots in the air warning the citizens to remain indoors and shopkeepers to keep their shutters down on Saturday morning.
Although, the self-exiled chief of the MQM asked his supporters to show restraint against issuance of contempt of court notice to him, however “ unknown” armed youths flouting his directives took to the streets in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Mirpur Khas, and Nawabshah on Friday evening, and Saturday soon after Mr. Hussein addressed the party workers at Nine-zero, the MQM’s headquarters.
In Karachi, major trading markets, and shopping centers remained closed in Saddar, the downtown of the metropolis, Tariq Road, Jodia Bazaar, Tower, Light House, Kharadar, Lyari , where armed youths created panic on Friday night by resorting to aerial firing and burning vehicles.
All Karachi Tajir Ittehad, a representative body of traders had already announced to keep their shutters down on Saturday due to lawlessness in the city.
However, shops, medical stores, and other outlets remained open in Shireen Jinnah Colony, Banaras, Shershah, Baldia Town, Patel Para, and some other parts dominated by other political parties..
A majority of petrol pumps remained closed in respective areas. Most of the offices and industrial units in the city also remained closed.
Almost 90 per cent Public transport remained off the road as mobs of rock-throwing youths burnt tyres in several parts of the city.
Contingents of police and rangers were deployed across the city, however, they acted as silent spectators.
All the state-owned universities, colleges and the Karachi Intermediate Board had already postponed the exams, which were scheduled for Friday. All the government and private schools and colleges remained also closed.
The annual elections of Karachi Bar Association (KBA) were postponed as the outgoing President of the association Mahmood-ul-Hassan told newsmen that the elections had bene postponed to protect the lives of lawyers.
Buying at the Fruit and Vegetable Market (New Sabzi Mandi) was also affected due to unavailability of transport. The strike also affected port activity due to the non-availability of transport vehicles in adequate number.
Supporters of MQM held protest demonstrations in various parts of Karachi, and Hyderabad against issuance of contempt of court notice to their leader. They were carrying posters and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of their demands. They also chanted slogans against judiciary.
Reports trickling from Hyderabad, suggested that a partial strike was observed in the city as various bazaars , markets and commercial centers remained closed. However, normal activities were witnessed in suburban areas the city.
Similar reports were received from Sukkur, Nawabshah and Mirpur Khas, where angry youths resorted to aerial firing and forced the shopkeepers to close down their businesses.
The strike in Karachi means that MQM is not a political party, instead it is an underworld group.
Unannounced…..??? Maybe not officially but the orders definitely came from somewhere.
How many deaths is army going to wait for???? Your comments was pretty good until you wrote this bone head opinion about the army.Do you think the army makes that decision??? NO,its the government's responsibility,its your corrupt President,your corrupt PM,your corrupt Rehman Malik's responsibility.Quit blaming the army,you idiots forget,its the army who saves your a*s*s*s*s*e*s whether its the floods,disasters or a government gone coo coo,
Nawaz Sahrif jo long march kerta hay to kya wo bhi political nahee?
Aliens from Mars have arrived to paralyze karachi?…… On the point of guns, if karachities have to show solidarity to MQM , then the whole world would be behind MQM in no time…..
MQM badmash hai. MQM Gunda hai. Is ma koi shak nahin ka MQM qatil ha. Altaf Hussain ko saza milni chahye. Farooq Sattar MQM ki qaid ma hai.
This name is already taken.Please choose a new psuedonym.Thank you.Site adm must check such things.He or she is paid for this.
Every one heard Altaf Hussain yesterday. He is a fascist par excellence. While speaking to his disciples he was throwing veiled threats and when he said do not get provoked and do not become violent then he meant in his fascist coded language that do it and everyone saw soon after his speech so called 'unknown gunmen' forced shut down of markets. This will be projected by the obedient media as a sign of popularity of Faqeer Altaf Hussain, However, the people are not going to be impressed by such forced non spontaneous shut downs.
Hostage situation of Karachi by MQM.
Who is benefiting from this? Who is at loss due to this strike?
I am glad I am out of Karachi now, I don't have to worry about returning home alive.
I am concerned about the average poor people who work hard to make their ends meet. If they don't work then there is no food on the plate.
MQM is responsible for this lawlessness. This is an act of mafia and doesn't represent the political mafia.
Unfortunate for Pakistan. Elites, Family gangs, mafias ruling over Pakistan. Who will change this madness? Who has the power to overcome mafias?
We should stop blaming X,Y, Z countries and look at internal faults 1st. Country today is not progressive because of poor internal infrastructure.
What does 'Unknown' means? Were they not Pakistanis;don't had NIC cards? and what for rangers and police guys were there??? They should have caught them ask for their identity. This 'Unknown persons' drama by the officials should be stopped now please.
Zulfiqar Mirza should take on MQM now..that would be interesting.
unarmed???
you are insane, please be anywhere in karachi and listen the music of guns.
such a corrupt media we do have, shamefull
MQM claims to have 99 percent mandate, so these unarmed peacefull gunmans are from remaining 1 percent minority, doing so to celebrate Altaf's sc notice, huh!
CJ has touched hornet nest.
The MQM is a terrorist organisation that needs to be banned today.
Mohajirs destroyed Pakistan in 1971 forcing Bangladesh to secede; they are destroying Pakistan again in their quest for creating 'Jinnahpur'. Altaf Hussain is acting like the colonial ruler of Sindh issuing dictates from London, the seat of the former British Empire.
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