QUETTA, Dec 29: A complete strike was observed for a second day on Saturday in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan in protest against the assassination of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto.

The railway link of Quetta with other parts of the country could not be restored. The Pakistan Railways has suspended train service from and for Quetta.

All markets, shopping plazas and business centres remained closed on the call of Mehmood Khan Achakzai, chief of the All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM), and the traders’ organisation.

The business community in Quetta has already announced three-day mourning. “Assassination of Ms Bhutto is a big blow to the country because she was a symbol of unity for the four provinces,” Anjuman-i-Tajiran president Abdul Rahim Kakar said, adding that traders would continue strike on Sunday.

All educational institutions, including the Balochistan University, Balochistan University of Information Technology and Computer Sciences, Khuzdar Engineering University and Bolan Medical College, also remained closed.

Banks and government offices are closed in connection with the three-day mourning announced by the government.

According to reports reaching here, business activities also remained suspended in other cities and towns of the province, including Dera Murad Jamali, Dera Allahyar, Loralai, Zhob, Sibi, Usta Mohammad, Khuzdar, Kalat, Hub, Pishin, Panjgur, Turbat and Gwadar.

Train service between Quetta and the rest of the country remained suspended for the second day as no train could leave Quetta for Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi and other cities.

“The railway route in Sindh linking Quetta with the rest of the country is yet to be cleared for the service,” a railway official said, adding that people were facing great difficulties because of the suspension of train service.

Fishing activities in coastal areas of the province remained suspended and boats were seen tied to piers. Fishermen observed the mourning on the call of their respective organisations in protest against the assassination Ms Bhutto.

No untoward incident was reported from any area on Saturday as the government had taken strict security measures throughout the province.

“Calm has returned to the disturbed areas of Nasirabad and Jaffarabad where many banks, a railway station and government and private property were set on fire by unruly mobs on Friday,” a senior police official said.

Personnel of the Frontier Corps, Balochistan Constabulary and police continued patrolling troubled areas of Dear Murad Jamali and Dera Allahyar districts, he added.