Police and ranges seen patrolling the city. PHOTO: FILE.
Earlier, All Karachi Tajir Ittehad Chairman Atiq Mir said shops would open at 4pm, Express News reported.
The decision to open shops and markets was made after an approval from Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) Rabita committee.
Karachi Transport Ittehad will consider whether to call off the transport strike after overlooking the situation in Karachi. Petrol Pump owners have announced that pumps will open in safe areas.
During a press conference in Karachi on Saturday, one of Rabita Committee’s deputy conveners Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui announced that MQM will carry out peaceful demonstrations all over the city on Sunday.
Parts of rural and urban Sindh, including Karachi, saw little traffic and businesses closed as MQM observed a day of mourning to protest against the killing of their MPA on Friday.
Sajid Qureshi was killed along with his son after Friday prayers in North Nazimabad, Karachi.
Qureshi was the third MQM MPA to be targeted and killed. MQM leader Abdul Rashid appealed to the concerned authorities to take action against the killers.
Public transport, petrol stations and offices remained close in parts of Sindh as security officials stood guard in major areas.
Firing continued in Nawabshah and Karachi since yesterday.
Around 16 people have been killed in the past 24 hours in Karachi.
A bus was torched in Baldia Number 4.
Protesters in Sukkur torched tyres while all shops remain closed. No traffic was seen out on the streets.
Large scale preparations for the funeral prayers continued at Jinnah Ground, near MQM headquarters Nine Zero. The ground can accommodate nearly 50,000 people and was heavily guarded by the police and MQM guards throughout the prayer service.
MQM will hold a press conference at 4pm today.
COMMENTS (28)
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@Hairaan: I am suggesting. It is recognized way of protest. How you say that they are forcing?
It is certainly MQM killing its own less important lawmakers to put pressure in Sindh Government to accepts its terms to join the government. At the same time, it is PML-N in the center, so such tactics are also designed to fail PML-N. and cause serious disruption to the economic recovery and hinder business activities
@reasonlight: Was the killing of two traders in Bahadurabad last week who refused to close their shops after mourning was declared was also part of the democratic process?????????
@reasonlight: Are you suggesting us that forcing people to shut down their businesses at gunpoint is democratic? Then I am afraid the killers are also exercising their democratic right.
@expaki: Believe me I didn't kill anybody neither I endorse these killings. But at the same time please don't starve the families of poor daily wagers by forcibly shutting down their businesses. I have seen many shopkeepers in my neighbourhood passing groceries to their clients from the almost closed shutter out of fear of NAMALOOM AFRAD. Please spare these poor fellows and find the real culprits if you can.
@anon: It is a democratic process and not against the law. It is required to establish security.
I strongly condemn the killing and may Sajid Qureshi and his son R.I.P. but forcing people to close down their business and bringing the city and province to a halt is not on. Where is our government? Is this what we elected? Plus look at the daily wage earners. MQM every strike day is a day of extra mourning for a daily wage earner who is already struggling to exist!!!
A cross the board action needed. Singh govt is doing nothing
Went to Office today and returned. I just Love to defy the strike. Strike doesn't achieve any thing except for the loss of bread to daily wager. To wash away sorrows hard work is the remedy. I suggest to MQM is your loss of an MPA is lesser then the loss of bread to the 250 Million living masses. Even though a loss is condemned but that does not mean that You should halt the city's economic activities., and choke the life out of living.
@Aysha M (whatever version): I just love one liners. Do let me know who has been killing all the policemen who participated in 92 operation since late 90s? Angles from the sky I guess? The target killings on late 90s are still reminded by people when situations get worse in karachi every now and then. And most of the killing was put under the mat by Mushi Administration since MQM ruled karachi unopposed and unchallanged. You can make claims but can't change the history.
How many people die in Pakistan in a day due to terrorism, extremism, political violence?
On an average of 20 per day? That's equal to about 7000 per year. What a waste of human resources!
@expaki: Of course people have a right to mourn. But you must realize that people should also have a right not to mourn.
@expaki: MOURNING and FORCED MOURNING are two different things.
@Aysha M (original version): The term TARGET KILLING may be new but the phenomenon is as old as human race.
The killing is indeed condemned but shutting down the city is the second success the killers must be enjoying in their hideouts.
@Xnain: The phenomenon of target killing surfaced in 2008
@AK: "MQM should understand that this is not the best way to force people towards weekly mourning" AK Sahib, you are right, but did you do YOUR duty to stop killings of innocents? at least give the right to people to mourn their deads Myself, as a Punjabi, feel sorry to say, I did not perform my duty. Regards AK sahib.
There were already many mafias and gangesters who were killing MQM workers, now Altaf Hussain has challenged big bull of Taliban who are very strong enough to damage MQM. Pity for MQM poor workers.
Another 4 billion rupees loss to the nation. What the MQM is doing by shutting down Karachi is just sweet music for the Taliban. The Taliban are happy someone else is doing their job for harming the economy. Wake up MQM, why dont u protest in the provincial and national assembly, just resign and mourn for five years.
@Aysha M (original version): Indeed an act of condemnation. But, All what MQM is taking was initated by herself in 90s and then under Mushi's umbrella in 2000s (e.g.target killing, extortion, hijacking high-worth civilians, china cutting, establishing strongholds, politicization of police in MQM dominated areas, china cutting etc etc). Its just that the others (TTP,PAC,Nationalists,ANP and other small groups) have also joined the bandwagon.
Karachi has been totally under control of MQM and ANP........
@The Khan-Waterloo,Ontario: Punjab has made peace with the Talibans, and have requested them to conduct their business elsewhere.
No city has suffered an iota of what Karachi has been through for unequivocally condemning Talibans.
Instead of condemning brutal killings, strike call is debated over. Human life is far more valuable than business activity
When was the last time any city in Punjab had a strike or any target killing. Sooner other provinces realize this is all Punjab's doing, sooner this madness can stop.
MQM should understand that this is not the best way to force people towards weekly mourning and shut all business activities in the city. This is really effecting their reputation day by day.
Those who do not show solidarity with MQM today, would actually be providing their tacit approval of Taliban operations. All parties should condemn ruthless killings
The people of Pakistan need to decide if they are with the forces of fundamentalism and obscurantism or want to see a progressive Pakistan.
"Badtreen jamhuriat Behtreen Amriat say behtar hay". what we reaping is badtareen jamhuriat? Hum watnoo ab to uth jao.