KARACHI/HYDERABAD: A shutdown was being observed in parts of Sindh on Thursday after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) appealed for a national day of mourning and a 'peaceful strike' across Sindh to protest what it called the 'extrajudicial killing' of one of it workers in Karachi by law enforcement agencies.

MQM chief Altaf Hussain had appealed for a peaceful shutter-down and wheel jam strike after the body of 46-year-old Sohail Ahmed, who had been missing for more than a month, was found on Wednesday in bushes in Scheme-42 in the Mochko area on the outskirts of Karachi.

Altaf Hussain also appealed to his activists and supporters for a large-scale participation in the funeral and burial of the slain worker in Karachi's Tariq Road area.

Read: Karachi braces for shutdown after Muttahida worker’s ‘extrajudicial killing’

Already in a serious tug of war with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the MQM this time directly blamed the province's ruling party and law enforcement agencies for the disappearance of its unit in-charge in Society sector as well as his killing.

Businesses and markets in parts of Karachi began wrapping up on Wednesday much before the party made a formal announcement regarding the strike.

Also read: MQM files two motions against CM

Fuel stations also suspended their operations hardly an hour after sunset as a result of which traffic remained thin and the city roads became deserted in most parts.

Key business and transport bodies have already announced that they will keep their businesses closed following MQM's call and educational institutions announced postponing their scheduled activities. However, the Sindh education ministry has decided to keep government schools open.

A similar situation was witnessed in Hyderabad, Sukkur and Nawabshah on Thursday where markets, businesses and fuel filling station remained closed. Most private schools remained shut in the cities while low turn out was witnessed at government schools which were open.

Some protesters burnt tyres and blocked roads in Hyderabad and Sukkur. Inter-city traffic remained thin across the province.

The party will also stage demonstrations and rallies in other parts of the country to register its protest.

— Ubaidullah Sheikh and Arshad Ali Sheikh reported from Sukkur and Nawabshah respectively