Karachi wears deserted look amid traders' strike
14 June, 2012
KARACHI: The life in provincial capital on Wednesday came to a halt as a result of strike called by the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI) against unabated extortion demands as well as killings and abductions of traders. The closure was called to express resentment against the killing of a trader of Shershah scrap market. Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Sunni Ittehad Council and various trade bodies, including Medicine Market Association, Wholesale Chemists Council of Pakistan and Defense Dealers Association, also supported the strike call. The normally lively markets of Kharadar, Jodia Bazaar, Pan Mandi, Jaama Cloth, Juna Market, Medicine Market, Bolton Market, Saddar, Electronics Market and Hyderi Market wore a deserted look with minimal public transport on the roads. Almost all markets, shops, petrol pumps and CNG stations remained shut since late Tuesday night in support of the strike call. The examinations of Federal Urdu University, Board of Intermediate Education Karachi, Sindh Board of Technical Education and Jinnah College for Women were also postponed after the strike announcement. Besides, the attendance at private and government offices also remained low due to the unavailability of public transport. Extra contingent of law enforcers, including Rangers and police were deputed at city's thoroughfares after Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah took serious notice of the killing of former MPA's brother and ordered DG Rangers and IG Sindh to beef up security measures. Syed Qarar Ali, brother of former MQM MPA Syed Shakir Ali was gunned down while his younger sibling Syed Zakir Ali injured by two unknown motorcyclists at their shop-cum-godown in Sher Shah scrap market. Police were yet unable to arrest any of the culprits involved in incident. Trader associations, however, announced resumption of the commercial activities from Wednesday evening. End.
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