HYDERABAD/NAWABSHAH: Armed miscreants spread panic in many localities of Hyderabad and Nawabshah on Sunday forcing traders and shopkeepers to pull down the shutters.

Hyderabad witnessed an abrupt closure in the afternoon following incidents of firing in the Hyder Chowk, Lajpat Road, Hirabad, Market, Tilak Incline and Phulelli areas and some units of Latifabad. However, shops were reopened after a couple of hours.

No one was wounded nor was anyone arrested.

Shopkeepers in Saddar, Cantonment, Khokhar Mohallah, Market Tower and other areas said they pulled down the shutters after the firing incidents presuming that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement had given a strike call as part of its protest over a statement of Maulana Abdul Aziz, a Lal Masjid cleric, that allegedly contained a threat to the MQM chief.

They said they resumed their businesses after coming to know that the MQM had not given a strike call.

In Nawabshah, groups of armed miscreants resorted to firing into the air in various localities of the city causing a great deal of panic.

The incidents led to the closure of several markets, bazaars and commercial streets.

No casualties were reported from any area of the city.

Published in Dawn, December 22th, 2014