http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?152930 PakTribune September 2, 2006
Complete shutter down strike observed throughout the country
ISLAMABAD
Complete shutter down strike was observed throughout the country, whereas partial strike was observed on Friday in Punjab and Peshawar on joint opposition strike call to protest against the killing of Former Chief Minister Balochistan Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and government policies.
Complete wheel jam and shutter down strike was observed throughout Balochistan against the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and amendments in the controversial Hudood Ordinance.
All the major highways leading to the port city of Karachi, Punjab and various others parts of the country from Quetta remained closed throughout the day. Keeping security risk in view the Quetta Express departed for Karachi from Quetta under the watchful eye of FC security personnel.
Complete shutter down and wheel jam strike was observed in all areas of Balochistan including Quetta, Sibbi, Qalat, Khuzdar, Mastung, Kharan, Turbat, Pangoor, Noshanki, Taftan Pashin, Chaman, Qila Saifullah, Muslim Bagh, Lora Lai, Zob, Mosa Khel and other Pakhtoon majority areas on the appeal of MMA and Pukhtoonkhwa NAP against Bugti?s killing.
No untoward incident was reported in Quetta till the filling of this report.
Following Juma Prayer, condemnation resolutions were passed in various mosques of Quetta in which it was said that no amendments would be tolerated in Hudood Ordinance.
All major businesses and trading markets remained opened as only partial strike was observed in the Punjab provincial capital, Lahore.
Partial strike was observed in the areas of Multan Road, Wahdat Road, and some other localities in the city, Friday. Heavy contingent of police took control of the city early Thursday night, it was learnt.
All major markets including Baidan Road, Mall Road, Anar Kali, Shah Alami, Brad Ruth Road, Akbari Mandi, Ring Mahal, Liberty Market, Circle Road, GT Road, Auto Market, Badami Bagh, Montgomery Road, Abbot Road, Davis Road, Mac Load Road, Mazang Achrah, Abid Market, Baghban Pura, Gulberg, Defense, Barkat Market, Garden Town, Model Town Link Road, Town Ship, Green Town, Johar Town, Masraf Shah, Shad Bagh, Timber Market, Gawal Mandi, Ferozepur Road, Nisbat Road and others remained open.
Most of the shops remained closed on the areas adjacent to Mansoora, Multan Road and Wahdat Road. It was learnt that in the later part of Friday the traffic flow resumed back to normal. Meanwhile the attendance at various offices remained normal. Complete shutter down strike was observed throughout the NWFP on call of MMA along with some reports of protest demonstration in some of the cities the province following against the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti, amendments in Hudood Ordinance, and illegal house arrest of Dr. Abdul Qadir here on Friday.
In different parts of the city the Peshawar Police also forced some of the shopkeepers for shutter down in order to avoid any untoward incidents and all the roads presented a deserted look.
The Daewoo authorities has also evacuate the bus stands keeping in view the previous loss in which more than 20 Daewoo buses were set on fire.
Similarly, Restaurant on University Road and some Car Show Rooms remains opened with the banners placed on their front in favour of strike.
The traffic system on Charsadda Road, Faqirabad and in the interior and adjacent road of the city remained according to schedules.
Enraged protesters chanted anti government slogans and burned tires and demanded resignations from the government.
Meanwhile, Complete strike was also observed in Nowshera, Charsaddah, Swat, Sawabi, Dera Ismail Khan, Kohat, Bunnu Lakki Marwat, and Mardan and in the other cities of the province.
Life also remained paralyzed and crippling strike was also observed in District Swat, Malakand and other district s on the call of MMA.
The huge protest demonstration was held in central city of Swat, where the leaders of the MMA had termed the killing of Bugti as great national loss and threat to the solidarity of the country.
Incidents like that of Bugti death is not good omen for the country. They said that we equally share the sorrow of Bugti death. They also strongly condemned the amendments in the Hudood Ordinance.
A strike call given by the combined opposition against killing of veteran Baloch nationalist leader, Nawab Akbar Bugti, accorded an effective response in Karachi and rest parts of Sindh paralysing the normal course of life on Friday.
The strike call was also supported by the traders, and business organizations and other religious and political parties.
Almost 90 per cent of the business, and commercial centers, bazaars and markets remained closed in most parts of Karachi, the commercial hub of the country. Public and private transport was also scanty.
The administration had taken strict security measures to avert any untoward incident as heavy contingents of police and rangers- both uniformed and civil dressed- were detailed at almost all the main roads and important streets.
Police fired teargas to disperse angry mobs in Lyrai, Chakiwara, and Golimar areas where pitched battles were fought between the youths and the police. However, no casualty was reported till the filing of this report. Sporadic incidents of aerial firing were also reported from some areas of the city.
Contingents of police and rangers were deployed at sensitive areas, particularly the diplomatic avenue, several Imambargahs, Madrassahs and Mosques to frustrate any unpleasant incident.
Some 10,000 police and rangers personnel, including 3000 reserved policemen from police training center were deployed in the city. .
Law enforcing personnel were also deployed on the roads leading to US Consulate, British Deputy High Commission and other foreign missions, foreign restaurants, banks and other installations.
All the main markets, bazaars and business centers, including Saddar, the city?s busiest commercial hub, Tariq Road, Hydri, Boultan Market, M.A Jinnah Road, Electronics Market, Jamia Cloth Market, Light House, Juna Market, Khajoor Market, Tower, Joria Bazaar, and Sohrab Ghot remained closed.
A majority of shops and small markets also remained closed in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Jahur, North Nazimabad, Naizimabad, New Karachi, F.B Area, Garden, Clifton, Liaquatabad, PECH Society, Malir, Pak Colony , F.B Area, Korangi, Orangi, Landhi and other localities.
Some shops remained open in Defence, Clifton and a few other areas. Almost 80 per cent of the petrol pumps in the city were closed on Thursday evening.
Operations at Karachi Port Trust, and Bin Qasim Port and other government organizations and corporations, remained disturbed. Attendance at the government and private offices remained 5 to 10 per cent.
Transport on inter-city routes, Sharae Faisal, the city?s busiest road, M.A Jinnah Road, University Road, and other major roads was thin. Taking advantage of the strike, the rickshaws and taxis charged the citizens at will.
All the private and public universities, colleges and schools remained also closed.
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