March 08, 2008	Saturday	Safar 29, 1429

KARACHI, March 7: Traders on Friday observed almost a complete shutter-down strike in protest against the publication of blasphemous cartoons in Danish newspapers.

The strike by and large remained peaceful as no major untoward incident was reported from any part of the metropolis.

The call for the strike was given by the Alliance of Markets Association Karachi, which was backed by Pasban, the Sunni Tehrik and Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan.

All major markets in the city including the electronics market, cloth market, jewellery shops and other commercial areas including Saddar, Tariq Road, Abul Hasan Isphahani Road, University Road and Rashid Minhas Road remained closed.

Most of the private educational institutions were also closed. However, business and attendance in government institutions including colleges, offices and government secretariats was normal.

Traffic on roads, though thin, plied without any hindrance. In some localities protesters set ablaze tyres, while at other places small processions were also taken out where speakers condemned the West, Denmark in particular, for hurting the feelings of the faithful. They termed the publication of the caricatures intolerable and said they would uphold and defend the prestige of the Prophet (PBUH).