‘Unannounced’ strike: Even without call, the shutters fall

Unrest began soon after MQM chief addressed workers on SC’s contempt of court notice.

KARACHI:

No political party called a strike on Saturday, yet life in the city and parts of the province came to a complete standstill.

This ‘unannounced’ strike began around 9:30 pm on Friday and lasted through most of Saturday. A few shops and petrol pumps did, however, manage to open by late Saturday evening.

On Friday evening, shortly after Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain told party workers to control their sentiments against the Supreme Court’s contempt of court notice, a group of armed men zoomed through all neighbourhoods of Karachi, shooting in the air and forcing businesses to shut down almost instantaneously. Similar incidents were also reported from Hyderabad, Benazirabad, Mirpurkhas and Sukkur. Anticipating violence, most educational institutions remained closed and all examinations at the University of Karachi were also postponed. Fortunately, the city did not witness any major untoward incident yet attendance in public and private organisations remained thin.

Despite the lack of violence, businesses and shops remained shut and residents were seen roaming the streets in search of public transport, food, and fuel. An elderly security guard, who works in Korangi, told The Express Tribune, that he had to walk all the way from Khuda Ki Basti in Surjani Town to the Baloch Colony bridge. “No one was willing to offer a lift, given the law and order situation,” he said.

Malik Ashfaq was in line at a CNG station when he heard gunshots and drove for cover on Friday night. “As it is, it’s very hard to get CNG, and then the firing forced them to close down,” he said, adding that when the city reopens, the CNG stations will be closed.



Several residents had to cut short their plans for the weekend, as well. “I was planning a family outing, given the pleasant weather we’ve been having,” said Habib Zia, a resident of Gulberg. “I was unable to get fuel when the situation worsened abruptly, so I ended up wasting the whole day at home.”

On Saturday morning, Altaf Hussain made another appeal for “peaceful protests” and asked his workers to refrain from causing harm to taxi and rickshaw drivers, and traders. Workers should protect their lives and refrain from rioting, he appealed, according to a statement. Altaf Hussain’s loyalists were quick to respond, and by mid-morning, several peaceful protests were held across different neighbourhoods.

Party supporters and a group of people, under the banner of Ahliyan-e-Karachi [Karachi residents] gathered at Liaquatabad, Rizvia, Federal B Area, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Saddar, Orangi Town, Nagan Chowrangi, Nazimabad and North Karachi, carrying placards in support of the MQM chief. A few protesters also burnt tyres on several main roads.

A demonstration was also held at Hyder Chowk in Hyderabad, where protesters set an effigy on fire. Similar protests took place in Latifabad in Hyderabad, and Mirpurkhas, Benazirabad, Tando Allahyar, Kotri and Tando Adam.

Several policemen and paramilitary soldiers were deployed. Karachi’s additional inspector-general Iqbal Mehmood refused, however, to comment on the abrupt halt in activities across Sindh. Meanwhile, a Pakistan Rangers spokesperson claimed that they arrested around 28 men with weapons who were trying to worsen the law and order situation by firing in the air and forcing businesses to shut down.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th, 2012.