ISLAMABAD, March 3: Life in major cities and towns of the country came to a grinding halt as a strike was observed on Friday in protest against the publication of blasphemous cartoons in some European newspapers.

Response to a call for strike given by major opposition parties was widespread in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta, large and small towns of the provinces and in the Northern Areas and the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (Fata). Demonstrations and processions were also taken out in most of the cities. The strike was largely peaceful all over the country except in Karachi where clashes were reported between demonstrators and law-enforcement personnel, the biggest one near the US consulate, and at Rehmanabad Chowk in Rawalpindi.

People’s misery was compounded by the lack of public transport and main markets, commercial centres and petrol pumps remained closed.

Roads in big cities, including the capital, wore a deserted look with very little traffic.

All government and private schools in Islamabad were closed for two days (Friday and Saturday) and attendance in government and private offices remained very thin.

Transport did not ply on most of the inter-city routes for the whole day but a few buses and wagons were seen on various routes after sunset.

Heavy contingents of police and Rangers were deployed to maintain peace in the main cities. Security arrangements in Islamabad were stated to be tightest-ever ahead of the two-day visit by US President George W. Bush.

Extraordinary security measures were in place at Faizabad, Zero-Point, Aabpara, the Constitution Avenue and the Diplomatic Enclave.

Police carried out strict checks of vehicles in the capital and barricades were erected on all routes leading to the Constitution Avenue and hotels where members of the US president’s entourage were staying.

Helicopters were used by law-enforcement agencies for aerial surveillance of sensitive areas in Islamabad.

Some students staged a rally at the Kashmir Highway against the sacrilegious cartoons and the visit of the US president.

All shopping and commercial centres were closed in Lahore and there was no public transport. Only a few private vehicles were seen on the roads.

The strike was peaceful and no violence was reported. There was no attempt to disrupt traffic as was observed during the previous strike on Feb 14. No attempt was made to stage a demonstration or take out a procession.

The government had made extensive security arrangements to ensure peace and protection of property during the strike.