Shutdown across Pakistan over Karachi violence

Protests against Saturdays Karachi violence continued across Pakistan on Monday, with Opposition parties observing shutdown in several cities, and lawyers boycotting their work.

Karachi/Quetta/Lahore/Peshawar, May 14 : Protests against Saturday's Karachi violence continued across Pakistan on Monday, with Opposition parties observing shutdown in several cities, and lawyers boycotting their work.

In Peshawar, most of the major markets, including the University Road, Saddar Road, Arbab Road, Liaquat Bazar, Jinnah Street and G.T. Road, and educational institutions remained closed.

However, the government and private organisations were open along with some shops in small markets, reports The News.

Scenes were no different in Lahore. Opposition parties like All Pakistan Anjuman Tajiran and Anjuman Tajiran-e-Lahore, which have given a strike call, made sure that the shutters of the shops at the Mall Road, Hall Road, inside Lahore and adjoining markets were down.

Markets and roads in Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Gojranawala, Sargodha, Okara, Arifwala and Sahiwal also wore a deserted look.

Lawyers in the province also supported the shut down by boycotting proceedings of the courts on the calls of lawyers' organizations. They took out a rally from the Mall Road to the Assembly Building, via Aiwan-e-Adal.

Black flags were hoisted at the offices of the Bar Councils and Bar Associations.

In Balochistan also the lawyers boycotted the courts in several districts.

No proceedings could take place in courts in Quetta, Pishin, Loralai, Mastung, Zhob and other districts in the absence of lawyers, who have demanded those responsible for the May 12 violence be caught and punished at the earliest.

Sindh Chief Minister Dr. Arbab Ghulam Rahim has announced a holiday for all the educational institutions here in the wake of prevailing situation.

In an official handout, Rahim asked the Education Secretary to shut all educational institutions in the city on May 14 in view of the local situation.

On Sunday, fresh violence between supporters of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and suspended Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry surfaced in Karachi, leaving three more persons killed and several others injured.

Many shops were set on fire, which continued on second consecutive day today.

The violence that began late on Friday night has already left over 40 people dead and more than 150 injured.

Several shops were gutted in the fire and over 75 vehicles were torched.

ANI