MQM’s day of mourning : Businesses, transport restart in late afternoon

MQM had called a strike following the alleged abduction and murder of three of its workers.

KARACHI: Businesses and transport in Sindh remained closed on Thursday on the day of mourning called by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement against the abduction and killing of three of its workers in Malir a day before. 

The All Karachi Tajir Ittehad, an alliance of more than 500 markets across the city, had decided to keep businesses closed following MQM’s call for strike. The chairperson of the alliance, Atiq Mir, told The Express Tribune that they decided to resume business activities after getting a go-ahead from members of the Rabita Committee.

The markets which were shut down in Karachi included Kharadar, Jodia Bazaar, Saddar, Paan Mandi, Bolton Market, Lee Market, Urdu Bazaar, shops and centres on Tariq Road, Zamzama, Gurumandir, Hasan Square, Shah Faisal Colony and Hyderi Market.

Irshad Bukhari, the head of the Karachi Transport Ittehad which has also supported the day of mourning, started public transport by late afternoon around 3pm.

Armed men reportedly set fire to a rickshaw on the main road that connects Safoora Chowrangi with Memon Medical Institute Hospital in Gulistan-e-Jauhar.

Public universities as well as the Board of Intermediate Education Karachi and Board of Technical Education Karachi had also postponed the exams scheduled for Thursday. On the call of the private schools’ association, schools across the city also remained shut.

The funerals of the three MQM supporters, Muhammad Farhan, Mehtab and Muhammad Tauseef, were held on Thursday afternoon in Malir Khokhrapar, while the only survivor, Farhan Idrees, is being treated at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

Commercial and trade activities and educational institutes also remained closed in Hyderabad for the day of mourning. Two tehsils each of Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Sanghar, one tehsil each of Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar and Benazirabad were affected by the call.

Roads were blocked by stones and transport was scarce throughout the day. MQM supporters also arranged Quran Khwani and prayed for the departed souls of their workers.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 7^th, 2013.