KARACHI: Karachi descended into fear and panic on Thursday evening minutes after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement announced that it would observe Friday as a ‘day of mourning’ in protest against the ‘extrajudicial killing’ of four MQM workers as violence after the ruling party’s call claimed two lives and paralysed the city, officials and sources said.

The four workers were found shot dead on Wednesday.

“There is an organised terrorism campaign going on in Karachi in the name of Karachi,” deputy convener of the MQM’s coordination committee Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqi told a press conference at the party’s headquarters Nine Zero.

“We would observe a day of mourning on Friday against the brutal trend and appeal the traders and transporters to keep their business closed voluntarily. We also appeal people to stay peaceful and don’t lose patience.”