BUSINESSES, SHOPS AND TRADE CENTRES SHUTS
DOWN IN KARACHI AND ENTIRE SINDH IN SUPPORT OF THE PEACEFUL
SHUTTER DOWN STRIKE CALL OF MQM AND JSQM
Karachi - 28 February 2000
Despite indiscriminate spate of raids and arrests of MQM and
JSQM office bearers, workers, supporters and their relatives
including the elders and the democratically elected MQM Member of
the suspended National Assembly and Chairman of Mohajir Rabita
Council Mr Ejaz Mehmood in Karachi and other parts of Sindh, the
Military Government miserably failed to sabotage the total and
peaceful strike observed by Mohajir and Sindhi shopkeepers,
businessmen, traders and trade complexes, commercial and
industrial centres were totally shut down in Sindh province in
support of the peaceful Shutter Down strike called by
the Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM) and JSQM (Jeay Sindh Quami
Mahaz), said the spokesperson of Muttahida Quami Movement.
The
nightlong siege and raids on the houses of MQM leaders and
workers was a common occurrence in Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas,
Sukkur and other areas of urban and rural Sindh, said the
eyewitnesses. During the nightlong raids the house of MQM elected
Member of the suspended Provincial Assembly of Sindh and a former
Minister for Housing and Town Planning Mr Waseem Akhtar was
besieged by Army and Para-Military Rangers while MQM former
Member of the Provincial Assembly of Sindh Mr Rana Safdar
Advocates house doors were broken, the entire house was
plundered, thirty-two thousand rupees, jewellery and ornaments
saved up for the dowry of the daughters wedding was looted
by the Police. Eye witness reported arrest of several hundred MQM
and JSQM workers, supporters and their relatives besides office
bearers.
The
spokesperson declared that despite Nazi style clampdown and
blockades of 90 Head Office of the MQM and Hyder
Manzil the office of JSQM and residence of Late honourable
G M Syed by the Government and widespread raids, arrests,
indiscriminate firing, intimidation and highhandedness of the
Military, Para-Military Rangers, Police and other Law Enforcement
Agency to force innocent citizens to open their shops, businesses
and stalls, Mohajirs and Sindhis remained undeterred throughout
Sindh province today and voluntarily and peacefully observed
total strike in entire Sindh including Karachi. Eyewitnesses
claimed that barely anything was open in Karachi and the Shutters
were down in entire Sindh province.
Not a
single incident of violence was reported anywhere in Sindh
province including Karachi either today during, before and after
the observance of strike, said the spokesperson.
The spokesperson told the press reporters
that in utter frustration, the Authorities, once again,
registered concocted F I R (No.55/2000) against the MQM Senator
Aftab Ahmed Sheikh, Senator Nasreen Jalil (Mrs) and Mr Zain-ul-Abedin
and Mr Bashir Qureshi of JSQM for arson, burning of buses and
looting during todays strike. A list of those arrested will
be published separately.
Finally, the spokesperson stated that lock-ups in the Police Stations are completely packed after the arrest of several hundred workers of both parties and now Military, Para-Military Rangers, Police and other Law Enforcement Agencies will extort millions of rupees in bribe from the families of the arrested persons for their release.