Complete shutter down strike observed throughout the country
ISLAMABAD, Sept 1 (Online): Complete shutter down strike was observed
throughout the country, whereas partial strike was observed on Friday in
Punjab and Peshawar on joint opposition strike call to protest against
the killing of Former Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti
and government policies. Complete wheel jam and shutter down strike was
observed throughout Balochistan against the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan
Bugti and amendments in the controversial Hudood Ordinance. All the
major highways leading to the port city of Karachi, Punjab and various
others parts of the country from Quetta remained closed throughout the
day. Keeping security risk in view the Quetta Express departed for
Karachi from Quetta under the watchful eye of FC security personnel.
Complete shutter down and wheel jam strike was observed in all areas of
Balochistan including Quetta, Sibbi, Qalat, Khuzdar, Mastung, Kharan,
Turbat, Pangoor, Noshanki, Taftan Pashin, Chaman, Qila Saifullah, Muslim
Bagh, Lora Lai, Zob, Mosa Khel and other Pakhtoon majority areas on the
appeal of MMA and Pukhtoonkhwa NAP against Bugti’s killing.No untoward
incident was reported in Quetta till the filling of this report.
Following Juma Prayer, condemnation resolutions were passed in various
mosques of Quetta in which it was said that no amendments would be
tolerated in Hudood Ordinance. All major businesses and trading markets
remained opened as only partial strike was observed in the Punjab
provincial capital, Lahore. Partial strike was observed in the areas of
Multan Road, Wahdat Road, and some other localities in the city, Friday.
Heavy contingent of police took control of the city early Thursday
night, it was learnt. All major markets including Baidan Road, Mall
Road, Anar Kali, Shah Alami, Brad Ruth Road, Akbari Mandi, Ring Mahal,
Liberty Market, Circle Road, GT Road, Auto Market, Badami Bagh,
Montgomery Road, Abbot Road, Davis Road, Mac Load Road, Mazang Achrah,
Abid Market, Baghban Pura, Gulberg, Defense, Barkat Market, Garden Town,
Model Town Link Road, Town Ship, Green Town, Johar Town, Masraf Shah,
Shad Bagh, Timber Market, Gawal Mandi, Ferozepur Road, Nisbat Road and
others remained open. Most of the shops remained closed on the areas
adjacent to Mansoora, Multan Road and Wahdat Road. It was learnt that in
the later part of Friday the traffic flow resumed back to normal.
Meanwhile the attendance at various offices remained normal. Complete
shutter down strike was observed throughout the NWFP on call
of MMA along with some reports of protest demonstration in some of the
cities the province following against the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti,
amendments in Hudood Ordinance, and illegal house arrest of Dr. Abdul
Qadir here on Friday. In different parts of the city the Peshawar Police
also forced some of the shopkeepers for shutter down in order to avoid
any untoward incidents and all the roads presented a deserted look. The
Daewoo authorities has also evacuate the bus stands keeping in view the
previous loss in which more than 20 Daewoo buses were set on fire.
Similarly, Restaurant on University Road and some Car Show Rooms
remains opened with the banners placed on their front in favour of
strike. The traffic system on Charsadda Road, Faqirabad and in the
interior and adjacent road of the city remained according to
schedules. Enraged protesters chanted anti government slogans and burned
tires and
demanded resignations from the government. Meanwhile, Complete strike
was also observed in Nowshera, Charsaddah,
Swat, Sawabi, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Bunnu Lakki Marwat, and Mardan
and in the other cities of the province.
Life also remained paralyzed and crippling strike was also observed in
District Swat, Malakand and other district s on the call of MMA. The
huge protest demonstration was held in central city of Swat, where the
leaders of the MMA had termed the killing of Bugti as great
national loss and threat to the solidarity of the country. Incidents
like that of Bugti death is not good omen for the country. They
said that we equally share the sorrow of Bugti death. They also strongly
condemned the amendments in the Hudood Ordinance. A strike call given by
the combined opposition against killing of veteran Baloch nationalist
leader, Nawab Akbar Bugti, accorded an effective response in Karachi and
rest parts of Sindh paralysing the normal course of life on Friday.The
strike call was also supported by the traders, and business
organizations and other religious and political parties.Almost 90 per
cent of the business, and commercial centers, bazaars and
markets remained closed in most parts of Karachi, the commercial hub of
the country. Public and private transport was also scanty.The
administration had taken strict security measures to avert any untoward
incident as heavy contingents of police and rangers- both uniformed and
civil dressed- were detailed at almost all the main roads and important
streets.
Police fired teargas to disperse angry mobs in Lyrai, Chakiwara, and
Golimar areas where pitched battles were fought between the youths and
the police. However, no casualty was reported till the filing of this
report. Sporadic incidents of aerial firing were also reported from some
areas of the city.
Contingents of police and rangers were deployed at sensitive areas,
particularly the diplomatic avenue, several Imambargahs, Madrassahs and
Mosques to frustrate any unpleasant incident. Some 10,000 police and
rangers personnel, including 3000 reserved policemen from police
training center were deployed in the city. .Law enforcing personnel were
also deployed on the roads leading to US Consulate, British Deputy High
Commission and other foreign missions, foreign restaurants, banks and
other installations.All the main markets, bazaars and business centers,
including Saddar, the city's busiest commercial hub, Tariq Road, Hydri,
Boultan Market, M.A Jinnah Road, Electronics Market, Jamia Cloth Market,
Light House, Juna Market, Khajoor Market, Tower, Joria Bazaar, and
Sohrab Ghot remained closed.
A majority of shops and small markets also remained closed in
Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jahur, North Nazimabad, Naizimabad, New
Karachi, F.B Area, Garden, Clifton, Liaquatabad, PECH Society, Malir,
Pak Colony , F.B Area, Korangi, Orangi, Landhi and other localities.
Some shops remained open in Defence, Clifton and a few other areas.
Almost 80 per cent of the petrol pumps in the city were closed on
Thursday evening. Operations at Karachi Port Trust, and Bin Qasim Port
and other government organizations and corporations, remained disturbed.
Attendance at the government and private offices remained 5 to 10 per
cent.Transport on inter-city routes , Sharae Faisal, the city's busiest
oad, M.A Jinnah Road, University Road, and other major roads was thin.
Taking advantage of the strike, the rickshaws and taxis charged the
citizens at will.All the private and public universities, colleges and
schools remained also closed.
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