Pakistan, Karachi On Edge

Karachi, Pakistan News: The provincial metropolis on Friday mourned the demise of MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq who was stabbed to death in London Thursday night. The City wore a deserted look as Friday was the first day of the 10-day mourning, announced by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to pay homage to the slain leader who was its chief ideologue.

The life remained paralysed as there was no public transport on roads, making citizens to face difficulties in carrying on their routine activities.

All major markets in North Nazimabad, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, North Karachi, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, PIB Colony, Liaquatabad, New MA Jinnah Road, Bolton Market and Saddar as well as public and private educational institutions remained off the schedule while attendance at public offices was thin as people preferred to stay in-door due to the prevailing uncertainty.

Above all, public transport disappeared from roads as the Karachi Transport Ittehad had announced the other day not to bring vehicles on roads on Friday to avert any untoward incident while the closure of petrol and CNG filling stations added to the difficulties of the people.

Certain rural outskirts and some settlements in the City, such as Pathan Colony, Qasba Morr, Machhar Colony, Baldia Town, Orangi Town, Tin Hatti, Gujjar Nullah, Paposh Nagar, Shahnawaz Bhutto Colony, Akhtar Colony and Keamari were also affected by the strike-like situation. People had to endure immense problems due to the shortage of essential commodities in these localities.

Moreover, majority of daily-wagers in the City in general and in the above-said localities in particular could not leave their homes for earning a living for their families.

Meanwhile, unidentified miscreants torched seven vehicles in different areas including Punjab Chowrangi, Garden area and Korangi Zaman Town near Chakra Goth. As per details, in the wee hours of Friday, unidentified miscreants set ablaze three cars and a dumper truck at Punjab Chowrangi area, a passenger bus of route No S-2 at Zaman Town in Chakra Goth and a Khan Coach at Aram Bagh area was also burnt.