KARACHI, Nov 8: As security forces have set up new temporary pickets ahead of the planned nationwide strike on Friday against the government’s new Afghan policy, the Pak-Afghan Defence Council here on Thursday mustered support of transporters and other groups in the city.

According to a press release of the Pakistan Afghan Defence Council (PADC), head of its transport committee met representatives of various organisations of transporters, including goods transporters, rickshaw and taxi drivers. They also continued their effort to solicit support of traders.

The PADC claimed that the representatives of goods transporters had assured them of an unconditional support. It also claimed similar support from the business community.

The Karachi Transport Federation has decided to participate in the strike whole-heatedly to deplore the killing of innocent Afghans in the American bombing.

In a statment, KTF chairman Salim Khan Bangash and others said their members would keep their vehicles, including, rickshaws, taxis, coaches, trucks and goods transport off the road to express solidarity with the Afghan people and to deplore the American bombing in which innocent Afghans were being killed and displaced.

Meanwhile, leaders of the PADC vowed to resist every attempt of the regime to turn Pakistan into a US colony.

They were critical of the government policy to provide “logistics” support to the American-led coalition.