The shutter-down strike was being observed in several regions of the province. — File photo

KARACHI: Nationalist parties in Sindh were observing a strike on Saturday against restoration of the Musharraf-era local government system in the province, DawnNews reported.

The shutter-down strike was being observed in several regions of the province.

Moreover, at least five people were killed in incidents of violence in Karachi that began on the eve of the strike.

Several vehicles had also been burnt in arson attacks across the city's districts.

The strike call had been given on Tuesday in protest against restoration of the 2001 Local Government Ordinance and withdrawal of the commissioner system.

The parties that gave the strike call were: Sindh United Party, Sindh National Front, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Jeay Sindh Tehrik, Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party and Awami Jamhoori Party.

On Friday, chief of the Awami Tehrik (AT), Ayaz Latif Palijo told media representatives that more parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML - N), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Sunni Tehrik (ST), Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), Balochistan National Party - Mengal (BNP - M), Balochistan National Party - Awami (BNP - A) and National Party (NP), had declared their support for the August 13 province-wide strike call.

The Awami National Party and National People’s Party (NPP) had already announced their support, Mr Palijo added.