Strike grinds mournful Karachi to a halt; partial shutdown elsewhere

The MQM had called the strike to protest the deaths of over 100 people killed in Karachi in the past week.Businesses, schools and government offices were closed, while public buses and taxis stayed off the road. The strike, called by the citys prominent political party, came as police found the bodies of 10 more people.All major markets, business and commercial centers in the city remained closed amid a spell of fear and tension.Incidents of firing and burning of vehicles were reported from various city areas.Contingents of police and Rangers were deployed across the city to cope with any eventuality. Police personnel on mobile vans and motorbikes kept on patrolling different areas whole day.A visit to the different areas showed that all main markets and commercial centres including Saddar, Bohri Bazaar, Electronics Market, Zaibunnisa Street, Regal Chowk, Zainab Market, Tariq Road, Hyderi, KDA Market (Gulshan-i-Iqbal) remained closed. Situation was same in Liaquatabad, North Nazimabad, Federal B Area, New Karachi, Landhi, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony, Gulistan-e-Jauhar where most of bazaars, markets and shops remained closed.A majority of petrol pumps remained closed in respective areas. Most of the offices and industrial units in the city also remained closedAll the state-owned universities, colleges and the Karachi Intermediate Board had already postponed the exams.Trading at the fruit and vegetable market (New Sabzi Mandi) was also affected due to unavailability of transport. The strike also affected port activity due to non-availability of transport.Reports trickling from Hyderabad, suggested that a complete strike was observed in the city areas as all the bazaars, markets and commercial centers remained closed in line with an earlier announcement made by local traders and businessmen. The strike however received a partial response in rural areas of the district.Similar reports were received from Mirpurkhas, Tando Adam, Tando Allahyar, and Nawabshah where business and trade activities remained partially shut, besides thin transport on the roads.