KARACHI, March 31: A call for countrywide shutdown given by the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (Ponam) received a mixed response on Thursday with the interior of Sindh and Quetta and most other town of Balochistan closing down completely and Peshawar and other cities in the NWFP observing a partial strike. In Karachi, the strike was effective in areas where parties in the Ponam alliance have a strong support base. The call went unheeded in Punjab, except for a small procession taken out in the southern D.G. Khan town in support of Ponam.

The strike was backed by several mainstream political parties which share Ponam’s concern for the rights of smaller provinces, stand for complete provincial autonomy, oppose construction of kalabagh dam and Greater Thal Canal, demand control of provinces over their resources, criticize the military operation in Wana and want the government to drop its plan to set up cantonments in Balochistan.

In Quetta, public and private vehicles were off the road and shops all over the city remained closed.

Most government employees could not reach offices and attendance in banks was thin. Educational institutions remained closed.

Outgoing coaches and buses from Quetta to Karachi, Taftan, Panjgur, Sukkur, Peshawar, Chaman and Zhob did not leave the city.

According to reports received from the interior of the province, the strike was successful in Chaman, Pishin, Loralai, Zhob, Ziarat, Sibi, Nushki, Mastung, Kalat, Khuzdar, Awaran, Gwadar, Panjgur, Turbat and partial in Barkhan, Nasirabad and Lasbela.

Ponam claimed that its 35 activists were arrested in Dera Murad Jamali and two in Hub town. Nasirabad police sources said that 15 people were arrested for trying to block the national highway.

In Peshawar, activists of various parties forced a partial shutdown, damaged vehicles and smashed window-panes of food outlets and showrooms in some areas.

City police fired tear-gas shells at two places after grips of protesters tried to force traders on the Grand Trunk Road near Firdous Cinema and Haji Camp areas to close their shops. Some activists pelted police pickets and vehicles with stones.

The Frontier Constabulary was called in to help police to maintain order.

On the Jamrud Road, rampaging youths smashed window-panes of the Honda North showroom and Chief Burgers, Usmania and Balana restaurants. A few brand new cars parked in the showroom were damaged, a worker at the site said.

The overall public response to the strike, was lukewarm with shutters of shops seen only partially down on the Saddar Road, Ashraf Road, Karkhano bazaar and Qissakhwani bazaar. In other localities, shops remained open.

Public transport was off the road the whole day and there was only thin traffic on main roads.

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami party secretary general Ikram Shah said that police had arrested its information secretary and senator from Balochistan Raza Mohammad Raza, and leaders Arbab Mujeeb and Jehangir Khan from Peshawar.

However, Senator Raza was released in the afternoon although police had registered a case against him. A police official said the release orders were issued directly by the Capital City Police chief.

“We have arrested 31 Ponam workers from different areas of the city,” police officer Habib-ur-Rehman told Dawn.

He said that SP Security Zafarullah Khan and constable Taj Mir Shah received injured from stone thrown by Ponam activists.

The Awami National Party (ANP) and Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) took out a procession in support of Ponam. It was led by ANP vice-president Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, NWFP president Bashir Ahmad Bilour and NWFP general secretary Najmuddin Khan.

In Karachi, the strike was effective in Lyari, Malir, Keamari town, Gadap, Bin Qasim town and some other areas.

In Lyari, most commercial establishments and markets remained closed. Major arteries of the town which included main Chakiwara Road, Shah latif Bhittai, Tannery Road and Shah Waliullah Road were deserted as public transport was off the road.

Educational institutions in the city were closed because of chehlum.

Reports of torching vehicles were received from different parts of the city and police were deployed in troubled areas. Except for the incidents of the torching of vehicles, the overall situation in the city was normal.

According to the Karachi Transport Ittehad, three public vehicles and a pick-up were set on fire. Reports of burning of a radio cab, a KESC van and a private car were also received.

City police Chief Tariq Jamil said one bus was gutted and another was partially damaged. “We have arrested 34 miscreants for torching vehicles and disturbing the peaceful atmosphere of the city”, he added.