Strike cripples business on fears of violence: trade faces forced closures

Fears of violence, vandalism during the nationalists'' strike on Saturday crippled trade and business activities in the country''s largest city, as markets faced forced closures by armed groups, which the businessmen community termed the state of "lawlessness".
Traders who were set to begin their Eid shopping season during the second decade of Ramazan faced billions of rupees losses due to the strike, called by Sindh''s nationalist political parties, which was also supported by ANP, JI and Sunni Tehrik, against the government''s move of reintroducing SLGO 2001 in the province.
Public transport remained off the roads for fears of vandalism as Karachi usually, in such conditions, faces violence coupled with wilful destruction by organised vandals torching buses, coaches, trucks, private vehicles and resorting to indiscriminate killings of commuters and drivers to spread terror. In many cases, vandals set ablaze selected shops on ethnic ground in different markets of the city.
However, rickshaws, taxis, and private vehicles were seen on the city''s roads in a limited number, as dozens of people faced long-standing at different bus stops to find their route buses. Except a few, all wholesale and retail markets in the old city areas were shuttered down, causing disruption in supply of grain food, drugs, machinery, electronic goods and such other items to the rest of the metropolis.
Daily wagers seeking household repair jobs, masonry, whitewashing, digging and drilling, automobile repairs etc, could not make earnings during the strike, whereas in many areas shoes menders, barbers, fruit and vegetable vendors did not open their businesses.
Markets in the old city area, which cater to the needs of entire country, including drugs, grain food, chemicals, jewellery and gold, cosmetics, plastic and hardware, paints, ceramics, wood, steel, rubber and used clothes, remained sealed.
Traders had shown displeasure over the daily chaotic circumstances in the city, which cause them billion of rupees losses besides life-insecurity, saying they were unable to make an independent decision to respond to the strike calls. Petrol pumps in many areas were opened despite reports of aerial firing by some unknown people to force their closure but failed, as opponents overpowered and assured the pumps owners of protection against vandalism.
"One group came at the petrol pump in Lasbela area on Friday night at about 10 pm and resorted to gunfire and force the owner to shut the pump, but immediately the rival one reached the spot and threatened the owner to open the pump or be ready for loss," said an eyewitness.
Talking to Business Recorder, President of Old City Traders Alliance, Jamil Paracha, said: "It is s a partial strike which badly hit business activities for lack of buyers and labourers because the public transport is not available".
He said Kharadar markets were open while shopping centres of Metha Dar had resumed businesses in early morning hours but later closed on rumours of violence in the nearby troubled Lyari area. He said: "Markets in Liaquatabad, Jama Cloth Market, and Urdu Bazaar are open but markets of Marriot Road, Jodia Bazaar and adjacent markets were closed".
Traders had reached their businesses but labourers could not come because public transport was not plying, he said, adding that "shops are undecorated and supply of commodities cannot not be made as cargo transportation also remained off the roads".
Paracha said traders had faced losses of about Rs 3 billion in the strike due to the dull trading activities, and added that markets would remain open till Sunday 2 am to recover the financial loss if buyers turned out to shopping.
PPI adds: a complete strike was observed in Sindh on the call of Save Sindh Committee, an alliance of nationalist parties, on Saturday to lodge protest against administrative bifurcation of province. The activists of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM), Sindh National Front (SNF), Sindh Taraqqi Pasand Party (STPP), Awami Tehreek (AT), Sindhiyani Tehreek (ST) and other parties took out rallies and staged sit-ins in different towns across the province.