City remains shut on strike call by religious parties

With markets closed and public transport off the roads, the city on Friday remained largely shut on the call of the religious parties to observe strike against the government's proposed move to change the blasphemy law. The strike was supported by traders and transporters, warning the government to refrain from the proposed controversial legislation.
However, in some suburban parts of the metropolis, supporters of a certain religio-political party, blocked roads leading to downtown, damaged private vehicles, shut shops forcibly, and attacked people. Analysts said the strike call was a hint to the fragile PPP government from certain religio-political parties to accommodate their political demands and remain not beyond show of street power.
The call was for countrywide strike, although Karachi stood largely shut, as trade and commercial activities were dead all the day. In evening hours, private vehicles and auto-rickshaw were seen plying on the roads. Situation was rather more grim in Orangi, Baldia, Landhi and Keamari where protestors of whom a large number had no words to explain the reason for their outcry, largely blocked roads, according to eyewitnesses.
Women and old people suffered at large in the city's outskirts, particularly in Pukhtun populated areas, for not anticipating that religious parties would also deny passage to private vehicles to reach their destinations. They were compelled to walking on foot for miles amid mob burning tires on roads with clubs in hands threatening motor-bikers, car and truck drivers not move on their area roads.
Police was seen completely resigned in Keamari and adjacent areas. Besides, on Shahrae Galib in Shireen Jinnah Colony miscreants continued with vandalism. Rangers did not obstruct any of the law violators, for unknown reasons. A dirty clash of mob with police took place in Shireen Jinnah Colony after Friday prayers, as supporters of a certain religio-political party turned violent.
Police, according to eyewitnesses, had to resort to tear gas shelling to disperse the unleashed mob, trying to protest, to reach Bilawal House, in Clifton, where President Zardari is staying. The shelling disturbed the area residents badly. However, police succeeded to disperse protestors and clear the road for traffic.
Several areas in the city remained calm and peaceful, and roads to downtown and other parts were open for vehicles. There were no incidents of violence throughout the day. Sunni Ittehad Council also staged a rally in evening hours on M A Jinnah Road to protest against the government's proposed legislation on the blasphemy law, but gave the impression of a show of street power.
The government on the eve of strike made it clear that it had no intention of carrying out any amendments in the blasphemy law and appealed to the religious parties to take back strike call for Friday. The strike call was given by Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Jamiat Ahle-Hadith, Tanzeem-e-Islami, Tehreek-e-Islami, Sunni Tehreek, etc.