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QUETTA, Jan 18: The shutter-down strike call given by the Pakistan-Afghan Defence Council (PADC) received a lukewarm response from the traders and business community in Balochistan on Friday.
All shopping centres and markets in Quetta and other parts of the province remained opened throughout the day.
The council gave the strike call in the province in protest against the ban imposed on five militant groups and arrests of their leaders and activists by the government last Saturday.
In some areas where Friday is observed as weekly holiday traders did not take part in the strike and opened their shops. All shops, markets and business centres remained open in Liaquat Bazaar, Jinnah Road, Prince Road, Qandahari Bazaar, Toghi Road, Mission Road and Sariab Road areas throughout the day.
In some other areas of Quetta, however, shopkeepers observed Friday as weekly holiday and did not open their shops in the morning. But after Jumma prayers, many shops were opened.
The office-bearers of the council failed to take out any protest procession and stage a demonstration in the city, as Quetta District Nazim Mohammad Rahim Kakar had already imposed section 144 and had banned all protest processions and demonstrations.
Heavy contingents of police and the Balochistan Reserve police were deployed at all the important places to avert any untoward situation.
RECORD GUTTED: A fire broke out in the accounts section of Quetta railways divisional superintendent office on Friday evening.
Most of the record regarding pension and GP fund of the retired railways employees was destroyed in the huge fire which continued more than two hours.
The fire tenders of Quetta Municipal Corporation and Pakistan Railways rushed to the spot and controlled fire after two hours. Cause of fire could not be ascertained.
The divisional superintendent has formed a four-member inquiry team to investigate into the incident.
