Day of mourning: Shops reopen after funeral

Six people were injured in firing incidents.

SUKKUR/ HYDERABAD/ KARACHI:

Shops and businesses began to open by Saturday afternoon following the call of mourning made by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement after its MPA, Sajid Qureshi, and his son were gunned down in North Nazimabad on Friday.

The streets bore a deserted look in the morning as the city mourned the loss of the men. However, Karachi limped back to life as businesses and commercial activities resumed after 4pm. Petrol pumps and CNG stations also opened by afternoon.

The funeral prayers of the legislator and his son were held at the Jinnah Ground in Azizabad  and they were later buried in Yasinabad graveyard amid sobs and tears. A large number of MQM leaders, workers and supported attened the funeral. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Nehal Hashmi also attended the funeral.

“MPA Sajid Qureshi and his young son were killed openly in an act of terrorism,” said MQM leader Faisal Subzwari. “The terrorists have claimed responsibility but the government and law-enforcement agencies seem helpless.”

All Karachi Tajir Ittehad and Karachi Transport Ittehad announced that transportation will resume on Monday, the third day of mourning.

No case was registered against the double murder as the police said they were still waiting for the family to file a complaint.

Other parts of Sindh

At least six people were injured in different firing incidents in Benazirabad and Hyderabad as the people observed a complete shutter-down strike in Latiafabad, Mirpurkhas, Benazirabad, Tando Allahyar, Thatta and Matiari districts.

The Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Sindh Bus Owners Association backed the MQM’s call. The party members also organised special prayers at the zonal and sector offices of the districts.

In Benazirabad, five men were injured in gun attacks near Tanga Stop, Hospital Road, Qazi Ahmed Chowk and Sheraz Chowk. In Hyderabad, 30-year-old Jamal Mallah was injured in Hali Road area.

The MQM’s zonal in-charge of Benazirabad district, Shiraz Masood, has been nominated along with six other party workers in an FIR for creating panic in the area. They have been booked under Anti-Terrorism Act.

In Sukkur, a partial shutter down strike was also observed as some men forced shopkeepers to close their business. Meanwhile, business activities continued normally in many areas of Sukkur. No strike was observed in other parts of upper Sindh.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2013.