KARACHI: All major markets in Karachi remained closed on Saturday, with public transport off the roads, while at least nine people were killed and more than 16 vehicles torched in different incidents of violence following the strike call by Sindh nationalist parties against the restoration of Sindh Local Government Ordinance 2001.

All Sindhi-speaking localities of the city including Ibrahim Haideri, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Malir, Sachal Goth, Chakra Goth, Shanti Nagar, Lyari remained in grip of fear after intense aerial firing and burning of tiers on roads on Friday night.

Several areas of Orangi, Banaras, Gulistan-e-Johar and Gulshan-e-Iqbal also remained tense. All markets of the city remained closed, with no minibus or coach plying on roads.

In Saddar area a few buses were seen; however, public transporter opted to park their vehicles following the announcement of Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI) not to ply minibuses on the strike day.

Miscreants suspended traffic in Orangi Town after pelting vehicles with stones. Some motorcyclists were beaten up and at least six bikes torched in the limits of Pirabad police station.

Two bodies were found from a car parked at the Shah Nawaz Bhutto Chowk in Pak Colony that were shifted to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) Hospital.

Two people were gunned down in Nazimabad number II. The bodies were shifted to the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital.

At least three people died and several others injured hand grenade attacks in Nazimabad.

A man badly injured after arson of a minibus at Keamari area Friday night died on Saturday.

A passenger had already burnt alive in the sad incident. A man was gunned down in firing of miscreants near Habib Bank Chowrangi of SITE Area.

Another man was gunned down at Dawood Chowrangi Landhi. A torture-marked body of a man was found from the Bin Qasim area and shifted to the JPMC.

At least 16 vehicles including minibuses, trucks, cars and bikes were burnt in Bin Qaim, Shah Faisal, Keamari, Tower, NIPA, Safoora and Banaras areas.

Police launched a crackdown following firing of armed men in Empress Market area on Friday evening in which a man had died and two persons injured.

Police also raised various localities and arrested more than 50 suspects recovering arms from them.The whole city remained in grip of tension and very thin attendance was observed in offices, educational institutions and hospitals.

Police and rangers started patrolling in the disturbed area to control the law and order.