KARACHI, Oct 12: A complete strike was observed in the city on Friday on a call given by various religious parties against the United States-led air strikes on Afghanistan and the Pakistan government’s support to the US.

Different religious parties under the auspices of the Pak-Afghan Defence Council (PADC) - a group of 35 religious parties - had called for a general strike to express solidarity with the Taliban government and the Afghan people and to protest against the US bombing of Afghanistan.

The government deployed heavy contingents of police and rangers at various places in the city to meet any eventuality. Police had beefed up security and intensified patrolling, especially in the sensitive areas of the city.

Police closed the roads leading to the US and British consulates as a precautionary measure. The deployment of law-enforcement agencies was also witnessed at the residences of foreign dignitaries and at the offices of multinational companies.

All of the commercial areas and markets, including Boulton Market, Saddar, Jodia Bazaar, Hyderi Market, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Korangi, Lyari, Tariq Road, Clifton and other areas remained closed.

Public transport remained off the roads throughout the day. Some of the people who tried to reach their workplaces faced hardship due to non- availability of transport. A few public buses, rickshaws and taxis were brought on the roads in the evening. Few private vehicles plied the roads.

Attendance in government and private offices was negligible. Most of the banks and fuel fillings stations also remained shut up in the city. Attendance of teachers, staff and students in government schools and colleges was thin. The majority of private educational institutions had announced on Thursday that they would remain closed on Friday.

Trade activity at Sabzimandi (vegetable market) was badly affected due to the strike. Activity at Karachi Port was also affected.

Proceedings in law courts, including the Sindh High court, City Courts, accountability courts and anti-terrorism courts were badly affected as the staff could not turn up due to non-availability of public transport.

Due to the tense situation in the city, prison administrations also could not bring undertrial prisoners to courts.

After Friday prayers, a massive protest demonstration was held at Bacha Khan Chowk under the aegis of the Jamiatul Ulema-i-Islam (F), and a rally was held at Dawood Chowrangi under the banners of the PADC.

The JUI (F) Sindh Secretary-General, Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro, took a pledge from the participants of the rally that they would continue their movement until the US withdrew from Afghanistan and Maulana Fazlur Rahman was not released.

Speaking at the rally at Dawood Chowrangi, leaders of the PADC said today’s peaceful strike in Sindh, including Karachi, had proved that the people had rejected the pro-US policy of Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Dr Mairaj-ul-Huda of the Jamaat-i-Islami said the people had so far remained peaceful on the call of religious parties, but the rulers should read the writing on the wall.