Express News screengrab of MQM leader Farooq Sattar speaking to the media in Lahore.
However, later in the day, the Rabita Committee said that while it will observe a day of mourning, it urged businesses and transporters to continue their routine activities.
"Party leaders and workers will hoist black flags," Nasir Jamal told Express Tribune.
“We took the decision to call back the closure of transport and business activities after people from the different walks of life, especially traders and transporters appealed us,” says MQM deputy convener Nasir Jamal while talking to The Express Tribune.
Traders and transporters welcomed the decision of the MQM, “We are thankful of the MQM for giving us time and listened our woes,” said Karachi Transport Ittehad chairman Irshad Bukhari.
Meanwhile, All Karachi Tajir Ittehad chairman Atiq Mir said “Karachi has already been faced massive economic losses and it is a good decision by MQM to call back the closure of business activities in Karachi.”
Earlier on Tuesday, at least eight people were killed, while 97 others were injured, including 28 police personnel, in the clashes which erupted outside Dr Tahirul Qadri's house in Model Town Colony, Lahore.
MQM leader Farooq Sattar, while speaking to the media in Lahore on Tuesday, stated the actions of the police were "undemocratic and barbaric."
Condemning the clash, Sattar also said that this incident was not a good message from the Punjab government.
MQM Deputy Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqi expressing sentiments similar to that of Sattar, stated that the protest of the PAT workers was peaceful.
Siddiqi added that the MQM, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q) had boycotted the Punjab Assembly in protest against the clash.
PTI's stance
PTI's Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry, while speaking to Express News, demanded an apology from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
Chaudhry also said that the Punjab government was responsible for this incident, adding that there was no justification for such an incident to take place.
PML-Q's stance
Following the incident, PML-Q Punjab president Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi spoke adversely against the Punjab government at a press conference in Lahore.
He remarked that the days of the provincial government were numbered.
Condemning the incident, he said that the PAT workers were shot at ruthlessly.
Express News screengrab of PML-Q Punjab president Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi addressing a press conference in Lahore.
"The rulers are playing with the lives of innocent people," he further commented.
Elahi stated that "there was no need for a judicial commission, everyone knows who ordered the police to open fire."
He also said that many of the injured are in critical condition, further stating the death toll may rise.
AML's stance
Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad told Express News the clash in Lahore was an "act of oppression, terrorism and barbarism."
Mocking the Punjab government, the AML chief stated sarcastically that "this was the real face of democracy."
COMMENTS (66)
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Government please hand over the murderers of Imran Frooq to Scotland yard and save Karachi and Pakistan from ...
By giving a call for mourning and shutting down of business in Karachi in response to something which happened in Lahore, goes on to reinforce the fact that MQM was, is and will forever remain a party confined to one city and will never go national.
I would have supported MQM had it shown the courage to announce such a call in Lahore and other parts of Punjab. Afterall, MQM does claim to have roots across Pakistan.
Nawaz Shareef supporters are so scared and defensive that instead of condemning a shameful act by PML-N they are criticising MQM for a peaceful protest.
@Naheed: In France when the farmers go on strike and block motorways and cause inconvennience for the public, they also distribute sweet melons at road blocks to the car drivers and the passengers to solicit their support for the strike.action. MQM should take similar promotions and perhaps distribute mangoes and papayas.
Rex Minor
gee officer, didn't you just write the same thing on ur poem website? lol @sirf Pakistani:
Millions of people in Karachi are suffering due to atrocities of MQM. All of them are fed up of MQM's dirty politics.
Idiot politics of MQM.
You can't blame others for this mess. Only one party is involved in all current controversies and scandals. And that isn't PTI, PPP, PMNQ, AML, MQM, JUI, JI, or Tahir ul Qadri. What happened in Lahore is unprecedented. No one with an iota of conscience can remain a spectator, when innocents are being massacred like this by the Punjab police. This is like Musharraf's 12th May.
Well MQM, if it were left to other parties to mourn the atrocities committed by your people, then frankly speaking they wouldn't be any day left in a calendar year where there would be no protests or mourings.
Any mourning for those people who suffered due to terrorist activities of MQM. Shops and petrol pumps are closed by MQM on the power of bullet.
Why no mourning for martyrs of May 12 when hundred people were killed in karachi. Killed by whom? All know who killed.
Say No to MQM. Say No to Strike.
MQM's politics of hate and strikes is the biggest hurdle in the way to progress of city.
Shame for MQM for negative politics. There politics is anti Pakistan. Each strike costs billions to Pakistan.
Politics of bullets and strikes is the culture of MQM. They cannot change this culture.
Why punishment being given to Karachite? Why petrol pumps are closed on the orders of MQM people? Why papers of universities postponed? Why shops are shut down? MQM should avoid politics of agitation.
Why does MQM not observe day of mourning in memory of May 12, 2007.? Daily one dozen people are murdered in karachi, there is no day of mourning called by PML-N. Why MQM is so much active about affairs of Punjab and they are least concerned about karachi affairs.
Opportunists
Sick of this shutdowns if its even a mosquito bite. MQM destroyed the living and incomes of all poor people who lives on daily wages. True that MQM is same as PPP mafia.
I guess due to strike we could easily watch Brazil vs Mexico :p
Dear MQM,
Thank you for your concern. It is most touching.
However, please dont make matters worse by shutting down Karachi.
Love, Lahore
Dear MQM just shut mouth instead of Karachi.
The time has come to identify the real enemies of Pakistan. They are perched in NW, Canada and United Kingdom. Those who behead soldiers and play soccer with the heads of the deceased are just as barbaric who shut down a metropolis of 20 million and jeopardise the livelihood of millions of poor.
@Zulfiqar Ali:
I second you! If MQM is such a "Chaudhry," try shutting down so much as a Karyana Store in any part of Lahore and Punjab Administration will follow MQM all the way to Karachi.
Nonsense party.
@Tanzeel: Why do they have to shut down Karachi ever time to celebrate their mournings dharnas which are never held over problems of the people of Karachi
@sirf Pakistani: They are enemy of this city and country
@Yousuf: This mafia gives a damn to common people.
Can someone guide this ridiculous and illetrate people of MQM that why they want to take more lifes by shutting down Karachi for one day, do they even know the stats of our Economy and do they know what is the earning per day of Karachites and what are the effects of shutting down Petrol Pumps. from the grounds of my heart i pray that this Party dissolve as soon as possible so we can atleast feel the breath of freedom which our Quaid gave to us by sacrificing his and his followers life. Any mature person can think that if we would closed our own house for us so the sufferer would be only us. Thats the moto of MQM to beaten the citizens of Karachi till death with ther foolish condolescences and their extreme emotional actions :@
Where is Ayesha M a true HAQ PARAST
wow why karachi is being closed!!
Is this it.The beginning of another uprising
After London, they want to make Karachi a Canada Colony.
I strongly condemn the incident happened in Punjab but Why MQM has announced day of mourning and has asked the people of Sindh to shut the business and transport? MQM wants to take complete benefit by using their power in others' involvement. MQM should dare to shut the business and transport in Punjab against violation clashes b/w Punjab Police and QAT. Govt. of Sindh and Law & Enforcement Agencies should stop MQM from such stupid activities.
Wrong things must be e condemn anywhere in Pakistan If u kill 8 Pakistani it is not so cheap for god sake wake up come out of your holes. these are the same peoples saying now Altaf will not be come out of the mess now this stupitity it is just Like "BANI TOU BANI WARNA ABDUL GHANI"
Shameful action this will tell how PMLN ruling, After all this happening u people still divide in parties no body think about the lost of lives and the country unity. you all must condemn the action taken by government against the citizens. Are as a nation we are going to right direction Pls be Pakistani.
what does it have to do with Karachi? MQM and alot of other parties want unrest in the country
Yeah right, shut down Karachi again.
They are shutting down Karachi because these were the first to start the barricade of streets and are now afraid that similar action might not be taken against them
“Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people”. What an example of true democracy in Pakistan. I would suggest to all those candidates who are looking for competitive examinations. please do mention this example in their papers. Guys, you will not find such "democracy" example on the globe.
MQM, please....you have already ruined karachi.
Punjabi supporters identifed
@Anwaar: Not in God's name but in MQM's name, a democratic right of every citizen in a democracy!
Rex Minor
what is going on , Karachi will close and Lahore will remain open for business ?
@Alee:
The fact that most of Karachi has shut down within 15 minutes of this announcement (I was just on my way home and saw petrol pumps and shops shutting down) proves you wrong.
@Tanzeel: ... It is because of idiots like you that MQM thinks it can do whatever it likes.
MQM call Karachi its own city and Karachi citizens most suffered due to these strikes.
@Tanzeel:
MQM showing solidarity with the dead is an oxymoron. This moronic gesture is hurting me as a Karachite because now I can't fill my car with fuel nor I would be able to buy groceries as I had planned for this evening.
Bayganoo ki Shadi mein Abdullah Deewana is what MQM is.
I am Karachiite and i am not convinced to shut down whole karachi . MQM should consider this act , it won't change any thing in lahore , but ppl are getting frustrated here in Karachi, MQM you loose your vote bank if this continues ,
Karachi is WIDE OPEN. No more propaganda.
@Tanzeel: Are you completely insane or do you come from a foreign country? Do you even know what MQM's day of mourning means? Have you not seen what happens? It's more a day of mourning for the poor man who will not be able to leave his house to earn something for his family. It's more a day of mourning for students that will miss classes, people that will wait on bus stands for hours waiting for public transportation.
This "gesture' harms everybody but MQM and the people they intend to harm with it. Grow up and think before you type on these forums.
For you guys these lives might not be important. Let MQM call mourning for a day and show solidarity. This gesture is not harming anybody.
Very tragic loss of lives. FIR must be registered against Shahbazullah.
MQM should always keep ur own business.
that's all left for them to do.....idiots!
@Alee: The daily wager that goes to bed, starving does!
Keep on babbling like you always do MQM, no one takes you seriously.
Please for GOD Sake, MQM be mature... This wont make any harm to Raiwand Landlords, but will affect a common man.