PESHAWAR, Sept 1: A complete shutter-down strike was observed here on Friday on a call given by the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy and the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal to protest against the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and “anti-people” policies of the government.

Shops, markets and businesses centres remained closed in the city. Owners of main transport organisations and associations kept their vehicles off the roads. People faced difficulties in reaching their destinations. However, there was a thin presence of rickshaws, yellow-cabs, minibuses and buses in certain parts of the city.

Almost all private primary schools located in the old city area remained closed. A large number of people could not reach their workplaces.

Markets, shopping centres and bazaars in the Saddar area wore a deserted look. Daily wagers, however, were present at various roundabouts in the city.

Police had been deployed at entry and exit points of the city to ward off any untoward incident.

Bazaars in the old city area, including Karimpura, Shaheen Bazaar, Qissakhwani, Namakmandi, Jehangirpura, Lahori, Gulbahar, Khyber, Yakatoot, Lahori and Gunj, remained closed in the morning. However, after Friday prayers, shops in some areas were opened and vehicles started plying.

Workers of the Jamaat-i-Islami took out a procession from the Markaz Al-Islami and after marching on the G. T. Road, held a demonstration near Hashtnagri against the military rulers.

Speaking on the occasion, JI MNA Sabir Hussain Awan, who led the procession, lashed out at the government for “plunging the country into a crisis by unleashing terror in Balochistan”.

The protesters were carrying placards inscribed with slogans against the military rulers.

ARD parties organised a demonstration at Chowk Yadgar.

Leaders of the alliance criticised Gen Musharraf and his “uniformed colleagues” and held them responsible for the killing of Nawab Bugti.

They also criticised the government for not handing over the body of Nawab Bugti to his family in Quetta.

The ARD and the Awami National Party also held a demonstration near Takhto Jamaat in Saddar and burnt an effigy of Gen Musharraf.