KARACHI – The Muttahida Qaumi Movement, which is an ally of the ruling PPP in federal and Sindh governments, on Sunday observed ‘day of mourning’ over the martyrdom of more than 100 innocent people in Quetta bombings.
All the businesses activities remained closed, besides traffic remained off the roads in the provincial capital. The city wore a deserted look as all markets and bazaars remained closed. Public transport mainly remained off roads, while petrol and gas stations were also closed. In different areas of the city, protest demonstrations were held against the Quetta carnage, while protesters staged sit-ins at M A Jinnah Road near Mazar-e-Quaid and Malir. A large number of police and law enforcers patrolled the streets to avoid any untoward incident.
Similarly, Sindh High Court Bar Association (SHCBA) and Karachi Bar Association (KBA) announced to observe a strike on Monday (today) to protest against the killings of innocent people in Quetta. They would also hold general body meetings on the occasion.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain had appealed to the people not to do any business or resort to violence during the day. He condemned the bomb blasts as well as the indifferent attitude of the federal and Balochistan governments.
Though, some business centres are used to remain open on holidays or Sunday, but due to the MQM call, all the business markets remained closed completely. According to a statement issued by the MQM, the party observed a peaceful day of mourning, expressing solidarity with the victims Quetta and Swat deadly blasts. Fateha and recitations of the Holy Quran were held for the departed souls and black flags were raised at the MQM offices. All the business centres voluntarily remained closed to express solidarity with the mourners and victims.
The main gathering was held at Lal Qila Ground in Azizababd where thousands of participants attended the ceremony to pray fateha for the departed souls and condemns to the acts of terrorism. MQM leaders Anis Ahmed Qaimkhani, Dr Farooq Sattar, Dr Nusrat Shaukat and others were present of the occasion.
They prayed for the people who were killed in the blast, including the cameraman of a private TV channel and personnel of the security forces.
Talking to the media persons, Farooq Sattar said that the Hazara community living in the vicinity of Alamdar road was being targeted constantly. He said that the community was suffering because of continual terrorist attacks, but no one was taking notice of their plight. He said the callous attitude of the Balochistan Chief Minister, towards the mourners holding a sit-in with the dead bodies of their loved-ones, was highly reprehensible. He said that Balochistan had fallen in the grip of a handful of terrorists and nothing was being done to restore trust of the people.
Sattar said that the Balochistan government had lost the right to rule. He said that the president and prime minister must take serious notice of the Balochistan situation.