HYDERABAD: The outlawed Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz’s call for strike against the Pakistan Protection Ordinance and extrajudicial killings of activists of nationalist parties drew a mixed response across the province on Wednesday in the wake of late night cracker blasts.

Qasimabad in Hyderabad and Tando Mohammad Khan towns remained shut during the strike while life went on as usually in Hyderabad city, Tando Allahyar and Matiari towns. Police claimed to have arrested 18 miscreants on charges of being involved in cracker blasts on rail tracks after raids in Qasimabad and Hussainabad, said an official statement.

Markets remained partially closed in Cantonment area and Saddar Bazaar while business remained open in the city’s main commercial centres like Resham Bazaar, Chotki Ghitti, Market Tower, Timber Market, grain market, Hirabad, Lajpat road, Shahi Bazaar, Sero Ghat and all units of Latifabad.

Tando Allahyar and Matiari districts did not respond to strike call while Tando Mohammad Khan remained shut during the strike. No untoward incident was reported from part of the Hyderabad division.

Dadu

A complete shutdown strike was observed with all main markets shuttered and traffic thin on Dadu-Hyderabad, Dadu-Moro and Dadu-Larkana roads. The other towns of the district, Mehar, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Johi, Bhan, Sehwan, Manjhand, Sann, Jamshoro and Kotri also remained shut during the strike.

Three crackers exploded in different places in the town late last night, which caused harassment among town residents but no casualties or eventualities were reported. Police raided a number of places and arrested three suspects in the wake of blasts.

Khairpur

The strike call did not elicit any response in the town as all bazaars and markets were shuttered for only a few hours in the morning and then reopened. A partial strike was observed in Faiz Ganj and trade activities resumed shortly afterwards.

Nawabshah

A complete shutdown strike was observed here with all main markets and bazaars having remained closed throughout the day. Traffic was also thin on the roads and attendance was low in schools.

The administration had beefed up security during the day to keep an eye on anti social elements. However, no untoward incident was reported from any part of the district.

Naushahro Feroze

A complete shutdown strike was observed in Moro, Mehrabpur, Kandiaro and Bhiria Road towns on Wednesday. Two cracker blasts were reported from Bakhri and Shah Zakaria localities in Mehrabpur town late on Tuesday night.

The blasts did not cause any major harm to anyone.

Badin

The JSMM call for strike drew mixed response in the district. A partial strike was observed in Badin, Golarchi and Khorwah towns and a complete shutdown was observed in Matli and Kario Ghanwar towns.

Larkana

A partial strike was observed in Larkana and adjoining towns as heavy contingents of police and Rangers kept patrolling the city to avert any untoward incident.