The shutter-down and wheel-jam strike called by Sindh Bachayo Committee was observed in certain areas of the city on Saturday while, central and old city areas remained open where public transport ran as usual. SBC, an alliance of Sindhi nationalist parties had called for strike against the submission of 20th Amendment bill in the National Assembly by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM).
The SBC delegation had struggled a lot to make the strike successful in all areas of Karachi and for this purpose they met with leaders of Awami National Party (ANP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and got assurances of full support but the strike could only be observed in hitherto Sindhi-dominated areas. The delegation of SBC had also met Irshad Bokhari, head of Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI) and the latter had announced his full support.
This scribe observed that the strike was observed in some areas Malir, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Pipri, Ghaghar Phatak, some areas of Landhi, some Sindhi-dominated areas of Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Johar and University Road. Besides, markets of Sacahl Goth, Safooran Goth, Bhittaiabad, Shanti Nagar, Marooara Goth, certain areas of old Sabzi Mandi, Seeta Nagar, Gulshan-e-Maimar, Kathor and Gadap remained partial closed.
Similarly, public transport was off the roads in Bilawal Colony, new Sabzi Mandi, Banaras Chowk, Ibrahim Hyderi, Manghopir, Khamiso Goth, Charka Goth, Gabol Colony and other Sindhi-dominated areas. Schools in these areas also remained closed.
Addressing a press conference at Hyder Manzil, the Convenor of SBC, Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah terming the strike very successful, thanked all the political parties for their support. Chairman Jeay Sindh Mahaz Riaz Ahmed Chandio, Chairman Sindh Save Moment Shah Mohammad Shah and others were also present. Jalal Shah said with this successful strike, the Sindhi people have sent a message to the rulers that they should not think of division of Sindh.
He claimed that strike was observed in all the areas of the province including Karachi, Ghotki, Sukkur, Khairpur Mirus, Naushehroferoze, Dadu, Jacobabad, Kashmore-Kandhkot, Shikarpur, Larkana, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Jamshoro and other areas. He alleged that anti-Sindh elements attacked the rallies of SBC workers in many districts and six workers were injured while police arrested three workers from Hyderabad. Riaz Chandio said SBC always avoided bloodshed and that's why strike was not observed completely in all areas of Karachi. He said we had instructed our workers not to confront with anyone.