HYDERABAD, Feb 12: The business community of Hyderabad announced on Sunday a shutter down strike on February 14 to protest against publication of blasphemous caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in some European countries.

Hundreds of businessmen took out a procession from the market area to the press club.

They demanded from the government to ban imports from the western countries and file cases against the newspapers concerned.

Sukkur: A complete strike was observed and processions were taken out on Sunday in protest against publication of the sacrilegious cartoons.

Sarafa bazaar, Shahi bazaar, Frere road, Gharib Abad, Mehran Markaz, Queens road, Race Course road and Barrage road remained closed during the strike and negligible traffic was seen on roads.

A procession was taken out by political, religious and social parties from the Ghousia mosque of the cloth market to the clock tower, where the protesters staged a sit-in and observed token hunger strike.

The protesters demanded from the government to announce an official strike of one day throughout the country to register its protest.

Protest rallies were also held in Thatta, Jacobabad, Makli, Mirpurkhas, Khairpur, Nawabshah, Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Kot Ghulam Mohammad and Thari Mirwah on Sunday against the publication of the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) sketches in the European newspapers.

Markets, business centres and bazaars remained closed in protest.

The processions were taken out by Sunni Action Committee, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Fazal), Jamat Ahl-i-Sunnat, Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz, Sindh National Party and Shehri Action Committee.

Protesters demanded from the government to stop George W. Bush from visiting Pakistan in protest.

The protesters demanded boycott of European products and set ablaze effigy of Danish prime minister and Danish flag.

A protester was injured in Mirpurkhas when a shopkeeper opened fire on him. Police arrested the shopkeeper.