KARACHI: City life came to a sudden halt on Wednesday morning amid scattered arson attacks leaving at least three vehicles burnt after an ‘appeal’ by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) for business closure against a pre-dawn raid by the Rangers on its head office and arrest of workers and leaders.

Nearly a dozen of ‘political activists’ were caught ‘red-handed’ while forcing closure of markets and commercial areas, setting fire to vehicles and firing in Karachi district east, police said.

Uncertainty started gripping the city in the early hours when TV channels aired the news of Rangers raid on the MQM headquarters, Nine Zero, followed by an ‘appeal announcement’ for a strike by MQM’s coordination committee.

“Following their [the MQM’s] announcement, a large number of transporters decided to stay off the roads,” said a senior member of the Karachi Transport Ittehad. “So the transport was almost nowhere in the first half of the day though a few buses started emerging later in the day. But they were few and far between and we cannot call it resumption of the public transport service.”

“The MQM coordination committee strongly condemns raid on Altaf Hussain’s residence and party headquarters Nine Zero and arrest of senior leaders Amir Khan, Abdul Haseeb, Dr Saleem Danish, Arshad Hussain, Dr Ayub Sheikh and several other workers including member of the Sindh Assembly Rehan Zafar,” said an MQM statement.

“The party against this act announces a protest day. Traders and transporters are appealed to keep their business closed in protest against the illegal raid, ransacking of the offices. The people of Sindh are also requested to observe peaceful protest against such brutality against the Urdu-speaking people.”

The Sindh Tajir Ittehad in a prompt response supported the call and announced that the business would remain closed across the province against the ‘illegal act’ of the law enforcement agency. Subsequently, businesses remained closed in almost every district.

While the city remained largely peaceful, scattered arson attacks kept some neighbourhoods tense and under fear. Two rickshaws were set on fire, one each in Liaquatabad and Korangi 2 ½. A 1000-CC car met the same fate in Gulistan-i-Jauhar’s block 13. A roadside eatery was also set on fire in block 18 of the neighbourhood.

LIAQUATABAD Supermarket is closed after the Rangers’ raid on ‘Nine Zero’.—Online

The situation resulted in abrupt closure of petrol pumps, school, colleges and universities, postponement of exams at some institutes. Parents rushed to schools to pick their children as many private schools informed them about the abrupt closure.

Though there was no word from the provincial government on the uncertain situation that kept the city life on the edge, the Karachi police chief claimed to have arrested “several miscreants” associated with a “political party” for disturbing regular life, forced closure of business and arson attacks.

“Eleven people were arrested red handed by the east zone police,” said additional inspector-general of police Ghulam Qadir Thebo. “They were forcing markets closure, setting fire to vehicles and armed attacks. All of them are political workers and would be charged in accordance with relevant laws,” the police chief added.

Published in Dawn, March 12th, 2015

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