Shut down: City remains partially closed for half of the day
MQM observes day of mourning to peacefully protest ‘extrajudicial killings’.
Making most of the deserted streets on Saturday, due to the strike called by MQM, children and men keep themselves busy in cricket. PHOTO: MOHAMMAD SAQIB/EXPRESS
SUKKUR/HYDERABAD/KARACHI:
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) observed a day of mourning on Saturday morning, protesting against the 'extrajudicial killings' of its workers.
From Friday night, petrol pumps and main markets remained closed while public transporters pulled their vehicles off the streets earlier than usual. However, by Saturday afternoon MQM leaders asked businessmen and transporters to restart their activities after which normal services resumed.
The day of mourning was announced at a press conference by MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi on Friday to protest the killing of party worker Muhammad Salman Nooruddin, whose tortured body was found from Landhi on February 4 - only a day after he was allegedly picked up by law enforcement agencies.
MQM's deputy convener Nasir Jamal, while talking to The Express Tribune, said that the day was observed to publicly highlight the killings of MQM workers. "No officials are willing to take notice of this issue."
Calling it a violation of basic human rights, Jamal said that since last year, 10 party workers have been abducted by law enforcement agencies and have become victims of extrajudicial killings.
"The courts take notice when people go missing in Balochistan and their tortured bodies are found, but when the same happens in Karachi, no one is willing to talk about it," said Jamal. "Why is there such clear disparity on this issue?"
The MQM leader said that his party asked traders and transporters to resume their work in the afternoon because they didn't want people in the city to face any problems or suffer financially.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain demanded that the authorities hold a judicial inquiry into the killings of Nooruddin and other workers. Altaf said that the officials who are giving the instructions to torture MQM workers should be held responsible.
He added that he had personally called the chief minister and other officials of various departments, including law enforcement agencies, but had not received any response.
Hyderabad
A day of mourning was also observed in parts of Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar, Sanghar, Nawabshah and Mirpurkhas. Party supporters wore black armbands and hoisted black flags in several parts of the districts.
Trade centres, fuel stations, industrial areas and commodities and vegetables markets remained closed in Hyderabad while traffic also remained off the roads till the afternoon.
On the day's eve, aerial firing was reported from several parts of Latifabad and city talukas while at least one motorbike rider, Afzal Khan, sustained bullet injuries while passing near the bureaucratic headquarters, Shahbaz Building. Many roads in Latifabad were also blocked with stones, bushes and burnt tyres.
Sukkur
A partial shutter-down strike was observed on MQM's call in Sukkur. However, it was the only city in upper Sindh to do so.
On Friday night, MQM activists had asked different trade bodies of the city to keep their business close on Saturday. However, all the main bazaars of the city started opening in the morning, according to their normal routine.
Unidentified armed men fired aerial shots in the bazaars, forcing the shopkeepers to pull their shutters down and close up. Business outlets in Sarafa Bazaar, Frere Road, Shahi Bazaar, Nishtar Road, Jinnah Chowk and others remained close but fruits and vegetables markets were open throughout the day.
A heavy contingent of law enforcers was deployed at different places to maintain law and order. Like Karachi and Hyderabad, most of the business centres opened in the afternoon.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2014.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) observed a day of mourning on Saturday morning, protesting against the 'extrajudicial killings' of its workers.
From Friday night, petrol pumps and main markets remained closed while public transporters pulled their vehicles off the streets earlier than usual. However, by Saturday afternoon MQM leaders asked businessmen and transporters to restart their activities after which normal services resumed.
The day of mourning was announced at a press conference by MQM leader Haider Abbas Rizvi on Friday to protest the killing of party worker Muhammad Salman Nooruddin, whose tortured body was found from Landhi on February 4 - only a day after he was allegedly picked up by law enforcement agencies.
MQM's deputy convener Nasir Jamal, while talking to The Express Tribune, said that the day was observed to publicly highlight the killings of MQM workers. "No officials are willing to take notice of this issue."
Calling it a violation of basic human rights, Jamal said that since last year, 10 party workers have been abducted by law enforcement agencies and have become victims of extrajudicial killings.
"The courts take notice when people go missing in Balochistan and their tortured bodies are found, but when the same happens in Karachi, no one is willing to talk about it," said Jamal. "Why is there such clear disparity on this issue?"
The MQM leader said that his party asked traders and transporters to resume their work in the afternoon because they didn't want people in the city to face any problems or suffer financially.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain demanded that the authorities hold a judicial inquiry into the killings of Nooruddin and other workers. Altaf said that the officials who are giving the instructions to torture MQM workers should be held responsible.
He added that he had personally called the chief minister and other officials of various departments, including law enforcement agencies, but had not received any response.
Hyderabad
A day of mourning was also observed in parts of Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Tando Allahyar, Sanghar, Nawabshah and Mirpurkhas. Party supporters wore black armbands and hoisted black flags in several parts of the districts.
Trade centres, fuel stations, industrial areas and commodities and vegetables markets remained closed in Hyderabad while traffic also remained off the roads till the afternoon.
On the day's eve, aerial firing was reported from several parts of Latifabad and city talukas while at least one motorbike rider, Afzal Khan, sustained bullet injuries while passing near the bureaucratic headquarters, Shahbaz Building. Many roads in Latifabad were also blocked with stones, bushes and burnt tyres.
Sukkur
A partial shutter-down strike was observed on MQM's call in Sukkur. However, it was the only city in upper Sindh to do so.
On Friday night, MQM activists had asked different trade bodies of the city to keep their business close on Saturday. However, all the main bazaars of the city started opening in the morning, according to their normal routine.
Unidentified armed men fired aerial shots in the bazaars, forcing the shopkeepers to pull their shutters down and close up. Business outlets in Sarafa Bazaar, Frere Road, Shahi Bazaar, Nishtar Road, Jinnah Chowk and others remained close but fruits and vegetables markets were open throughout the day.
A heavy contingent of law enforcers was deployed at different places to maintain law and order. Like Karachi and Hyderabad, most of the business centres opened in the afternoon.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2014.