KARACHI, May 27: An effective strike was observed in the metropolis on Saturday on a call given by the Sunni Rahber Council Pakistan in protest against the non-arrest of culprits of the Nishtar Park bombing on April 11.
The strike call was endorsed by the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy and other political and religious parties, besides some trade and transport organisations.
Chief of the council Mufti Muneebur Rehman thanked people for observing a peaceful strike. He said the step to observe the strike had been taken to press the government to expedite the process of investigation into the Nishtar Park bombing. Neither any arrest has been made, nor has any substantial evidence of the government having found a clue to the culprits emerged so far despite a lapse of 47 days since the incident took place, he regretted.
Since morning, the main markets and commercial hubs in the city remained closed and public transport was thin. Most people responded positively to the strike call by remaining indoors and keeping their business closed voluntarily.
One of the main commercial centres, Saddar and Empress Market, as well as the otherwise crowded streets of Bohri Bazaar, wore a deserted look. The Bolton Market, Jodia Bazaar, Khori Garden, Kharadar, and Mithadar in the old city areas, and Tariq Road, Hyderi, KDA Market, Liaquatabad, etc all remained closed.
Although some shops in various localities were found open in the afternoon, a noticeable impact of the strike was felt across the city.
Only one organisation of transport operators had publicly announced its support to the strike, but most of the other organisations kept their vehicles off the road in the first half of the day.
People were faced with hardship in catching a bus, minibus or coach of their desire. However, a little number of buses, minibuses, and coaches were seen plying in the afternoon.
Attendance in public and private organizations also remained thin as people failed to reach their workplace due to the absence of public transport vehicles.
The number of private vehicles plying in different areas was also thin.
Most government offices were open but with a thin attendance. Many bank branches, however, were enclosed.
Due to the non-availability of transport means, a low turnout of patients at OPDs of various government hospitals was reported.
Deployment of police and Rangers was made across the city with an increased patrolling. However, no report of any untoward incident was received from any part of the metropolis.
In Lyari, most commercial areas, including Lea Market and Timber Market, as well as shops and business concerns in different localities, remained closed and transport across the Lyari, Saddar and Keamari towns remained thin.
In the densely-populated areas of Lyari, the usually busy roads, including Chawkiwara Road, Shah Latif Bhittai Road, Shah Waliullah Road and Sheedi Village Road wore a deserted look as people remained indoors and all shops and markets closed.
A complete shutterdown was witnessed in old city areas of Saddar Town where most business concerns and offices did not open since morning.
The strike was even more effective in Kharadar, Mithadar, Bhimpura and Ranchor Line where the Sunni Tehrik and other religious organizations have considerable support. Khajoor Bazaar, Khori Garden, Chemical Markets and Pan Mandi, the main trading centres for different commodities, also remained closed.
Most people working at fishery, port, Dockyard and West Wharf could not reach their workplaces and students could not go to their schools due to the non-availability of transport means.
KARACHI, May 27: An effective strike was observed in the metropolis on Saturday on a call given by the Sunni Rahber Council Pakistan in protest against the non-arrest of culprits of the Nishtar Park bombing on April 11.
One of the main commercial centres, Saddar and Empress Market, as well as the otherwise crowded streets of Bohri Bazaar, wore a deserted look. The Bolton Market, Jodia Bazaar, Khori Garden, Kharadar, and Mithadar in the old city areas, and Tariq Road, Hyderi, KDA Market, Liaquatabad, etc all remained closed.
