Demonstrations against Qadri's conviction: partial strike observed on call of SIC

Several protest denomination were held in different areas of the city, while a partial strike was observed on the call of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) against the conviction of Mumtatz Qardi in Salman Taseer murder case. Dozens of Sunni Tehrik (ST) workers including senior leaders were taken into custody by Rangers.
Scores of religious parties' activists, who gathered after Jumma prayers at several locations of the city, held protest demonstrations against the death sentence handed down to Qadri by an Anti Terrorism Court. The protesters, holding banners, placards and portraits of Mumtaz Qadir, shouted slogans against the government and the United States. The ST also arranged a protest demonstration at Karachi Press Club to show its solidarity with Mumtaz Qadri.
Following the strike call, firing incidents were started in several parts of the city including old city area, Ranchore line, Bohra Pir, Jhangir Road, Korangi, Landhi, New Karachi, Shah Faisal Colony, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Samanabad on late Thursday night while two public buses were also set on fire in Orangi Town. All major markets of the city remained closed as the traders had announced to support the strike.
Meanwhile, heavy contingent of Sindh Rangers cordoned off the central office of ST located in the old city area on early Friday and took the central leaders Shahid Ghauri and Mobeen Qadri into custody. The Sindh Rangers also conducted raids at other ST offices located at Jahangir Road, Soldier Bazaar, PECHS Society, Shah Faisal and New Karachi and detained dozens of ST workers. Fahim Sheikh, spokesman of ST, said the Sindh Rangers picked over 50 activists of ST including senior leaders. He condemned the arrest, saying that none of the leader and activist was involved in any kind of criminal or terrorist activity.
The Sindh Rangers were also deployed at the residence of ST Chief Sarwat Ejaz Qadri in Nazimabad. The spokesman of Sindh Rangers said that only 24 persons were picked up in separate raids after recovery of eight weapons including repeater, 7 MM riffle, pistols and others from them.