LAHORE, Feb 26: Protesting against the disqualification of the Sharif brothers, workers of the Pakistan Muslim League-N took out processions across Punjab on Thursday while businessmen observed partial to complete strike in different cities and towns.

The strike was almost complete in the industrial centres of Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Sialkot. In other cities, the strike was partial to complete.

Protesters turned violent in Multan and Sargodha and damaged public and private property, including two banks.

In some cities, baton-wielding activists forced markets’ closure.

In Lahore, traders at Liberty Market, New Anarkali, Hall Road, The Mall and other areas closed their businesses in the morning to join the PML-N protest.

Traffic was thin on the roads.

Customers stayed away from upmarket cafes and restaurants.

Fear of violence led to low attendance in government schools.

The PML-N has decided to take out a rally from the Punjab assembly building to Governor’s House on Friday, extending the protest by another day in the city. Former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif will lead the rally.

At Thursday’s rally, overcharged PML-N workers raised slogans against President Asif Ali Zardari, Governor Salman Taseer and Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar.

In the afternoon, they were joined by lawyers and workers of the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf, Jamaat-i-Islami, Labour Party, Khaksar Tehrik and the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party.

Lawyers, who boycotted courts and took out rallies as part of their regular protest, joined PML-N workers in some cities to condemn the Supreme Court verdict and the imposition of governor’s rule.