Strike in Quetta paralyses civic life

Shia community remains wary of govt’s efforts to protect them.

QUETTA:

A complete shutter down strike was observed in Quetta on Saturday, completely paralysing trade and commercial activities in the provincial capital.

The strike was staged on the call of the Hazara Democratic Party (HDP) and backed by Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) to condemn Friday’s rocket and firing attacks at a Shia locality near Hazara Town which claimed six lives. Other nationalist parties and traders had also vowed to support the protest against the brutal killings.

Most of the markets situated in Liaquat Bazaar, Sattar Road, Meezan Chowk, Sirki Road, Zarghoon Road, Joint Road, Brewery Road, Prince Road, Alamdar Road, Taugi Road and adjoining areas remained closed.

The streets wore a deserted look with very thin traffic the roads and the attendance in government offices was low. However, some eateries and chemists remained open since they are normally ‘exempted’ from observing strike calls.

Stringent security measures were adopted by law-enforcement agencies to deal with any untoward situation in the metropolis.

Police personnel and the Frontier Corps were deputed at key areas of the city to maintain public order.

HDP Secretary Information Mohammad Raza Wakeel said that more than 400 people from the Shia community have been killed since 2004 and there was no progress in any of the incidents.



Published in The Express Tribune, May 8^th, 2011.