Traders call off Karachi strike, markets to reopen after 5pm

Petrol pumps, shops to be reopened by 5pm today. PHOTO: PPI/ FILE

KARACHI: All Karachi Traders Association called off its strike on Wednesday and announced of reopening markets by 5pm, reported Express News.

Petrol pumps will be reopened and public transport will start plying after the strike ends.

The traders decided to go on a token strike after the murder of yet another trader, Qarar Ali, who was a well-known trader of Shershah’s scrap market. Qarrar was shot dead, and his brother, Zakir Ali, was injured, inside their shop-cum-godown on Tuesday afternoon. Ali was killed after he refused to pay extortion.

The MQM too, endorsed the strike call. Scores of people, including MQM leader Wasay Jalil and members of the MQM coordination committee, also came to the hospital. The people shouted slogans against Lyari gangsters.

The party’s coordination committee also warned that if action was not taken against the extortionists, the public, workers and traders could lose their patience with the situation.