Several vehicles burnt, properties damaged: Protest against Munawwar's killing
By S. Raza Hasan
KARACHI, June 17: Violence erupted in parts of the city on Thursday after the killing of Pakistan People's Party leader Munawwar Suhrawardy near Gurumandir.
The worst-affected area was Jamshed Road, where several vehicles and public and private properties were set on fire or damaged by the youths protesting against the assassination.
A branch of the United Bank was set on fire in Hyderabad Colony. A bus (LSA-2587), Balochistan Coach, a motorcycle and a Hi-roof were also set on fire in the same area. An auto-workshop on Jamshed Road was also set on fire. It was partially damaged in the fire.
A truck (JX-6590) belonging to a beverage firm was set on fire near the People's Secretariat near the Quaid's mausoleum. A petrol station was ransacked by the protesters, also near the People's Secretariat.
Besides, young men made bonfires and erected barricades at different spots in the city. As the news of the assassination spread in the city, several commercial areas and businesses were closed for the day.
The auto-market of used and new vehicles on New M. A. Jinnah Road was also closed. Bank Al-Habib situated on New M.A Jinnah Road was also damaged by the protesters. Police resorted to tear-gas shelling and made some arrests.
A large number of PPP workers staged a protest sit-in at the Jail Chowrangi. They raised slogans against the leadership of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement. However, senior leaders of the party exhorted the youths to remain peaceful and not to block the roads.
A spokesman for the fire department told Dawn that most of the fire tenders could not reach the troubled spots as they were not provided with escort by the police. In such situations, often fire tenders become soft target, he added.
Tension also prevailed in Lyari, a PPP stronghold, where most of the commercial activities were closed following the killing. Youths burned tyres on the main road to block traffic. In parts of Malir, too, protesters set fire to tyres and blocked the roads.
Shops located on the main University Road in Gulshan-i-Iqbal also remained closed. Commercial activities along the route of the funeral procession from New M.A Jinnah Road, Old Sabzi Mandi, Hasan Square and Sir Shah Suleman Road were also shuttered.
REWARD MONEY: The Sindh government on Thursday night announced a reward of Rs2 million for providing lead to the killers of Munawwar Suhrawardy. The police department also released sketches of two suspects who took part in the killing.
The inspector-general of Sindh constituted a team headed by CCPO Tariq Jamil and including Investigation DIG Fayyaz Leghari, SSP Manzoor Mughal, SP Farooq Awan and SP Niaz Khoso to investigate the killing.
