Karachi remains open despite MQM’s shutdown call
Shutdown call given by MQM for observing a “day of mourning” against the killing of its workers
Karachi: The country’s financial capital, Karachi, remained open on Saturday despite the shutdown call give by MQM for observing a “day of mourning” against the killing of its workers.
MQM appealed to traders and transporters to keep their businesses shut in response to allegations that Rangers had killed three of its workers, but the situation in most parts of Karachi remained normal and business and educational institutions were open as per schedule.
Regular public transport could be seen on the roads of the metropolis while petrol pumps and schools were also operating as per routine. No significant decrease could be observed in traffic on the roads in majority of the city’s areas.
Personnel from the Rangers paramilitary force were present in sensitive areas of Karachi as well as in spots of the metropolis that are routinely crowded.
Most traders opened their shops and businesses.
However, markets in some areas, including Korangi, Federal B. Area, Landhi and Karimabad remained shut.
MQM’s call came when already tense relations between MQM and the security establishment strained further on Friday with the MQM accusing Rangers of killing its workers in what it described as a fake encounter.
The MQM’s accusation was followed by a strong reaction from the paramilitary force which claimed that all the four killed were terrorists hiding in ‘safe houses’ on the party’s directives.
The MQM would also hold a rally on Sunday in Karachi’s Liaquatabad area which would proceed to the Quaid’s mausoleum in protest against the killings.
Pakistan Rangers Sindh claimed arresting eight ‘miscreants’ for forcing market closure in various areas of Karachi.
According to Rangers, the paramilitary force conducted operations in Liaquatabad No. 4, Karimabad, Orangi Sector 5 and Jubilee areas of the city and arrested 8 ‘miscreants’, who they claimed belong to the MQM.
The ‘miscreants’ were arrested for threatening traders’ community and peaceful citizens into halting everyday activities.
The arrested suspects will be presented before anti-terrorism courts (ATC) soon.
—Online
