KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) would observe a day of mourning on Friday after four bodies recovered from Karachi's Memon Goth area off the Superhighway a day earlier were identified today as those of its activists, DawnNews reported.

The party announced that it would stage peaceful protests against what it calls extra judicial killings and kidnappings of its activists.

Reports of aerial firing and shutting down of shops were received as the situation turned tense in several areas of the city.

After the bodies were identified as members of the MQM, a large number of the party's' Rabita Committee, office bearers and relatives of the deceased gathered at the cold storage where the bodies were kept.

Relatives demanded a high-level investigation into the deaths.

Moreover, enraged persons resorted to stone-pelting and rioting outside the cold storage facility.

MQM spokesman Wasay Jalil claimed that six party members were 'arrested' from County Garden in Scheme 33 off Abul Hassan Ispahani Road in Gulshan-i-Iqbal area of the city on April 13 adding that four of the activists were identified whereas two were still missing.

Speaking about the four workers whose bodies had been identified, Jalil claimed that three of the activists belonged to the party's Gulshan-i-Iqbal sector whereas the fourth was from Gulshan-i-Maymar.

The spokesperson further said that the MQM's Rabita Committee would hold an emergency press conference in the evening, where it would formally announce the party's further plan of action to be taken regarding the alleged extra judicial killings and kidnappings of its activists.

The bodies were recovered from a desolate location near the Superhighway in Memon Goth area of Karachi and bore torture marks.

Police had said that the victims appeared to have been kidnapped from somewhere else and later brought to the spot where they were shot dead.

Meanwhile, transporters said they will keep their vehicles off the road, announcing to support Friday's strike.

Private schools association has already announced to keep all schools shut in the Sindh capital. Examinations scheduled for Friday have also been postponed by Matric and Intermediate boards.

Hyderabad witnesses abrupt closure

Parts of Hyderabad witnessed an abrupt closure as miscreants burnt tyres on roundabouts in the wake of reports from Karachi.

All filling stations were closed immediately and shopkeepers shuttered their shops. The main business and commercial centres including Cantonment area, Saddar, Gari Khata, Tilak incline, Hirabad, Market Tower, Shahi Bazar, Resham Gali, Sarfaraz Colony, Phulelli and all units of Latifabad were immediately closed soon after news regarding confirmation of identity of MQM workers reached the city.

Reports of aerial firing were also received from different areas but till filing of this report no casualty was reported. Main roundabouts across Hyderabad witnessed traffic gridlock as panicked commuters tried to leave for homes.

– Mohammad Hussain Khan contributed to the reporting from Hyderabad