HYDERABAD, Oct 20: Trade and civic activities in Sindh remained at a standstill for the second consecutive day on Saturday to mourn the people who were killed in Thursday’s terrorist attack in Karachi, with strikes being observed in cities and towns all over the province.
Hotels, restaurants, petrol pumps and CNG stations remained closed while lawyers boycotted courts all over Sindh. Inter-city transport was also affected. Quran Khwanis were held and Ghaibana Namaz-i-Janaza was offered in various cities of the province.
Sorrow, frustration and anger was writ large on the faces of party activists who gave vent to their feelings by holding protest rallies and manning roadblocks while incidents of tyre burning, stone pelting and firing in the air were reported from various cities.
Karachi tried to limp back to normalcy with private vehicles seen in large numbers but most public traffic remained off road while major shopping centres remained closed for third consecutive day. Twelve people were injured in firing incidents in the city while incidents of tyre burning and stone pelting were reported from various city areas.
Complete strike was observed in localities dominated by Sindhi and Baloch communities.
Complete strike was observed in Larkana, Benazir Bhutto’s hometown and a PPP stronghold. Traffic and attendance in public and private offices remained thin.
Lawyers and PPP activists took out processions and offered Gaibana Namaz-i-Janaza in Jinnahbagh. Gaibana Namaz-i-Janaza was also offered near the Mirpur Bhutto residence of Mumtaz Ali Bhutto, which he and other SNF leaders, workers and people attended.
Shops remained completely closed in Hyderabad and adjoining districts.
Shopkeepers in several areas opened shops but PPP workers forced them to close as they went round bazaars in groups, raising Jeay Bhutto slogans.
Tyres were burnt in various areas in Hyderabad while incidents of aerial firing were reported from Gari Khata and Hirabad areas.
Matiari, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Kotri and Jamshoro remained completely shut while PPP workers brought out protest rallies, completely suspending traffic.
An MQM sympathiser was injured when he was attacked by an enraged PPP activist in the Saddar area at a dairy shop which was opened in the limits of Cantonment police station.
Traffic flow between Hyderabad and Badin was affected as PPP activists blocked Hyderabad-Tando Mohammad Khan road, forcing drivers to take alternate routes. There was thin attendance in educational institutions and government departments.
Quran Khwani was held at the residence of the district president of the PPP, Zahid Ali Bhurgari.
Protest rallies were brought out by Sindh People’s Youth Organisation and PPP activists. Ghaibana Nimaz-i-Janaza was offered by PPP activists outside the press club in Hyderabad.
Sindh National Students Federation and Sindh Taraqi Passand Party have also condemned blasts.
Complete strike was observed in Dadu, Shikarpur, Nawabshah, Thatta, Makli, Sehwan, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Mehar, Johi, Phulji Badin, Mirpur Sakro, Ghorabari, Keti Bundar, Jati, Chuhar Jamali, Mirpur Bathoro, Jhoke Sharif, Sujawal, Tando Mohammad Khan, Tando Allahyar, Naushahro Feroze, Khairpur, Mirpurkhas, Umerkot, Kandhkot, Mirpurkhas, Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Tando Jan Mohammed, Jhuddo, Naukot, Kot Ghulam Mohammed, Jhillori, Khaan, Phuladiyoon, Sindhri, Kunri, Samaro, Pithoro and Shadi Palli.
Partial strikes were observed in Mirpurkhas, Mirwah Gorchani, Digri, Tando Jan Mohammed, Jhuddo, Naukot, Kot Ghulam Mohammed, Jhillori, Khaan, Phuladiyoon, Sindhri, Mithi, Nagarparkar, Jacobabad, Kandhkot and Tangwani, Kaloi, Tangwani.
In Nawabshah, some incidents of forced closures of shops were reported.
In Kunri, police are reported to have arrested 10 PPP activists for forcing shopkeepers to close their shops. They were later released.