ISLAMABAD, Sept 1: Partial shutterdown strike was observed in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and other districts in the Potohar region on Friday in response to a nation-wide call given by the major opposition parties — the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy (ARD), Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) and Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (PONM) — to protest the killing of Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) chief Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in a ‘military operation’.

The MMA had also given the call to protest the amendment in the Hudood Ordinances, incarceration of Dr Abdul Qadir Khan, privatization of steel mills at throw away price and spiralling inflation.

However, the public transport continued to operate and the twin cities remained peaceful during the strike. Lawyers, political activists and traders held protest rallies, public meetings in Attock, Gujar Khan, Jhelum and other small towns to condemn the killing of the veteran Baloch leader.

No untoward incident was reported from any part of the twin cities and other areas.

Heavy contingents of police were deployed at many sensitive areas and near the main commercial centres to maintain law and order.

Among the main commercial centres, Aabpara Market was completely shut, and shops in Jinnah Super, Super, Karachi Company, Sitara Market, F-10 Markez, Faizabad, Commercial Market, Saddar, Raja Bazaar, Committee Chowk, and Liaquat Bagh markets remained closed in the morning but many opened in the afternoon. City Road, Jhanda Cheechi Bazaar and major trading centres in the Cantonment area remained closed.

Roads in the capital presented normal look as the public and private transport plied unhindered. However people faced problems in Rawalpindi due to shortage of public transport in the early hours. Attendance in educational institutions and offices remained thin.

Heavy contingents of police were seen deployed at Faizabad, Zero Point, Aabpara, Constitution Avenue and in the vicinity of two five-star hotels and the already heavily protected Diplomatic Enclave.

The traders community of Aabpara Market also observed Ghaibana Namaz-i-Janaza of Nawab Akbar Bugti. “We observed strike not due to the call of the ARD, but to ensure the people of Balochistan that their Punjabi brothers are evenly grieved on the sad demise of Nawab Bugti,” said their leader, Ajmal Baloch.

When contacted, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Chaudhry Mohammad Ali said the strike remained peaceful and no incident or disturbance took place the whole day.

He said law and order situation remained peaceful and there was no abnormality in public transport services.

Hamid Asghar adds from Gujar Khan: Partial strike was observed in Jhelum, Gujar Khan, Sohawa and Dina. The traffic on the GT road was thin.

The office-bearers of District Bar Association, Jhellum and Peoples Lawyers Forum held a peaceful procession and boycotted courts to express solidarity with the Bugti family and the people of Balochistan.

Meanwhile the local leaders and workers of the Jamaat-i- Islami held a meeting in Jhelum city and condemned the killing of the Baloch leader.

The lawyers, led by Advocate Muhammad Munir, member Peoples Lawyers Forum, Punjab; Advocate Chaudhry Yasin Shaukat, president, Peoples Lawyers Forum, Jhellum District; Raja Nasiruddin, president DBA, and Advocate Aurang Zeb general- secretary DBA, Jhellum, walked upto the office of the district police officer.

They raised slogans against the government and termed the killing of Nawab Bugti as a state terrorism.

They said the military rulers were sowing the seeds of hatred among the provinces to harm the national harmony.

The local leaders of JI, Raja Nawaz Kiani, Zafar Mahmood Dar, Raja Muhammad Zia Ashraf, Qasim Mahmood addressing a rally condemned the tragedy and demanded a judicial probe.

Meanwhile in Gujar Khan the local leaders of religious parties including Raja Muhammad Jawad (JI), Haji Muhammad Ashraf Naqshbandi (JUP) and others led a procession from Markazi Jamia Masjid to GT Road chowk.

Yaqoob Malik from Attock adds: Partial strike was observed in Attock as majority of shops and markets remained opened. Public transport remained on roads. Lawyers and political leaders offered Ghaibana funeral prayer of Nawab Bugti at the District Bar Association premises and at Liaqaut Shaheed Hockey Stadium.

ARD district coordinator Rana Liaqat Ali Khan, PPP district president, Sher Afzal Khan, general-secretary Dr Naeem Awan, PML- N leader Waheed Murad, Communist Party Pakistan leader Engineer Jameel Malik, Attock-1 Union Council Nazim Rana Shaukat Ali Khan, Sheikh Ghiasuddin, Sheikh Ishtiaq and Azmat Bukhari advocate were prominent among the participants.

In the morning lawyers boycotted the court proceedings.

Former DBA president and PPP leader Sheikh Ehsanuddin Advocate while talking to newsmen held President Gen Pervez Musharraf responsible for the killing of Nawab Bugti and urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the killings.