KARACHI, Dawn: A protest was observed in Karachi and most cities and towns of interior Sindh on Friday in response to a strike call given by the Jamaat Ahle Sunnat and endorsed by several other political organisations to condemn Tuesday’s blast in Nishtar Park in which 47 people were killed and over 100 injured.
A partial strike was also observed in several cities and towns of Punjab.
In Lahore, traffic was thin on intracity and inter-city roads. Major markets and shopping centres, however, closed only for Friday prayers.
A complete strike was observed in Rawalpindi, but the response in Islamabad was partial. In Balochistan, the strike was observed in Quetta and other towns of the province.
In the NWFP, processions and demonstrations were held in Peshawar and other cities and towns, but the strike call received a lukewarm response.
According to reports from Sialkot, Vehari, Mianwali, Okara, Kasur and Narowal, no business activity took place in the towns.
Processions and protests demonstrations were held all over the country after Friday prayers. However, no incident of violence relating to the protests were reported from anywhere.
Army troops deployed in Karachi on Thursday to assist the civil administration in maintaining law and order were formally withdrawn. However, police and Rangers maintained that ‘high alert’ presence.
The Soldier Bazar police station registered an FIR under the Explosives and Anti-Terrorism Acts for the Nishtar Park blast. The complainant is Altaf Qadri, the Nazim of Jamaat Ahle Sunnat.
Business and commercial activities, suspended for the past two days, remained closed for another day. Almost all commercial areas and markets, including Bolton Market, Saddar, Jodia Bazaar, Hyderi Market, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, Korangi, Lyari, Tariq Road and Clifton remained close. Attendance in government and private institutions was thin.
Public transport was off road but a few vehicles were seen in the afternoon. However, private vehicles were on the road and their number was larger on Friday compared to the past two days. The intercity bus service, however, completely suspended its operation on Friday.
Many surgical operations in hospitals were delayed. Drug stores and pharmacies also remained closed.
Our Quetta Correspondent adds: In Quetta All markets and business centres remained closed and there was little traffic on roads. Supporters of religious parties gathered outside the press club after Friday payers. They held demonstrations against the government.
Later a protest rally was held at Meezan Chowk which was addressed by provincial Amir of Jammat Ahl-i-Sunat Pir Khalid Sultan and others.
They said that a conspiracy had eliminated the entire leadership of the Sunni Tehrik. They said the government had failed to protect the life and property of people.
The protesters demanded that culprits involved in the incident be arrested and punished. They said the ST had already named elements involved in the crime.
Strike was also observed in Mastung, Kalat, Sibi, Nasirabad, Jaffarabad, Usta Mohammad, Khuzdar, Hub, Loralai, Chaman and other areas of the province.
http://www.dawn.com/2006/04/15/top1.htm