HYDERABAD: Roads wore a deserted look and markets and filling stations remained shuttered in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Nawabshah and Mirpurkhas on Sunday in response to Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s call for observance of the day as a day of mourning over custodial deaths of its activists in Karachi.

Except for Qasimabad taluka, the rest of three talukas of Hyderabad, Latifabad and Hyderabad rural remained shut throughout the day while unidentified people burned tyres on roads and threw stones and boulders to block traffic. Public transport had already disappeared since MQM’s announcement of strike late on Saturday night.

There were reports of aerial firing in parts of Latifabad and city. The strike was also observed in Tando Allahyar, Kotri and some parts of Jamshoro district.

Meanwhile, MQM Hyderabad chapter leaders appealed in a joint statement to the apex court to take suo motu action against extrajudicial killings of the party workers.

SUKKUR: A complete strike was observed here on Sunday on MQM’s call for observing the day as a mourning day against killing in police custody of an MQM worker in Karachi.

All markets, shopping centres, bazaars, hotels and filling stations remained shuttered in the city throughout the day and business activities came to a standstill.

The city’s roads and streets wore a deserted look while public transport disappeared, causing great inconvenience to commuters.

In Nawan Goth area, MQM workers burnt tyres and blocked the road. However, there was no report of any untoward incident from any area.

NAWABSHAH: A complete strike was observed in Nawabshah where almost all markets and bazaars remained completely shuttered though some shops were seen open on Sakrand and Qazi Ahmed roads.

Traffic remained thin on roads.

Black flags were hoisted on all MQM offices and the party workers wore black armbands as a mark of protest against extrajudicial killings of their colleagues.

Policemen were deployed at all important places across the city to avert any untoward incident.

MIRPURKHAS: A complete strike was observed here in response to MQM’s call to protest against targeted killings and custodial deaths of its workers and supporters in Karachi.

All markets, hotels and filling stations remained closed and public transport was off the roads while MQM workers wore black armbands and hoisted black flags atop their party offices.

The strike was also observed in Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Tando Jan Mohammad, Jhuddo, Naokot, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, Jhilori, Sindhri, Hingorno, Phuladyoon and Khaan.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2015

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