Karachi, other Sindh cities come to a standstill

An eerie uncertainty loomed over Karachi and other major cities of Sindh on Saturday as the country’s financial hub came to a grinding halt, five people, including policemen, got killed and several effigies of the Supreme Court chief justice got torched, all for particularly no reason at all.

The apparent uneasiness in the city was ushered by the SC’s Friday decision in which it served a show-cause notice to Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain for committing contempt of court, however, MQM leaders steered clear of controversy by saying the party had nothing to do with the protests and that the people had staged demonstrations themselves to express their love for party chief Altaf Hussain.

MQM spokesman Wasey Jalil told Pakistan Today that the public had protested at various places across Karachi and parts of Sindh province against the apex court’s orders. “MQM had nothing to do with the protests organised by the public in favour of MQM chief Altaf Hussain,” the spokesman added.

Meanwhile, Altaf issued a statement from London, saying he valued public sentiments emerging after the SC decision, but he would appeal to the public to keep their protests peaceful.

He said it was legal and constitutional right of the people to carry out peaceful protests, appealing to “each and every worker and sympathiser of the MQM to restrain their emotions”.

He said the people had defeated machinations against the MQM in the past and he was hopeful that they would frustrate these conspiracies today as well.

Despite Altaf’s request and MQM’s dissociation, life in the metropolis came to standstill throughout the day. Shops, markets, fuelling stations and public transport remained shut for the day owing to a “show of power” by an “organised group”.

The daylong closure caused a loss of Rs 3 billion, according to All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI) chairman Atiq Mir, while Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) chairman Haroon Afzal put the figure at Rs 2.5 billion.

Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI) chairman Irshad Bukhari said transporters decided to keep their vehicles off-road following threats by an “organised group”.

The state machinery eventually came to life in the evening with the Rangers restoring order.

The Rangers carried out raids in various parts of the metropolis and rounded up 28 criminals involved in the forceful closure of shops, markets and petrol pumps.

But before that happened, at least five people, including two Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officials and an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), were killed across the port city.

The body of CID official Sohail was recovered from Suparco Road, while the body of Khurram, another CID official, was found in Garden area.

Both CID officials were kidnapped on Friday day and killed after torture.

Police ASI Mohsin was targeted and killed by unidentified armed men in Banaras area.

Another man identified as Anwar was killed in Orangi Town No 1, while a handcuffed, bullet-riddled body of a teenager was recovered from Kashti Chowk in Lyari.

Several protest demonstrations were held in the city against the SC contempt of court orders against Altaf Hussain. Protests were reported at NIPA Chowrangi, Nagan Chowrangi, Five Star Chowrangi, Aysha Manzil, Liaquatabad, Gharibabad, Orangi No 5, Burnes Road, Guru Mandir, Nazimabad, Pak Colony, Bara Board, Landhi and Korangi.

The protesters chanted slogans against the chief justice of Pakistan and in some areas, even set his effigies on fire to vent anger, demanding the apex court revoke the contempt orders.

Apart from Karachi, demonstrations were held in Hyderabad, Sukkur and Nawabshah as well.

Reports said armed men had forced the closure of shops, markets, petrol pumps and CNG stations as early as Friday night.

The University of Karachi and Karachi Bar Council were also forced to postpone exams and elections, respectively, for later.