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Strike against blasphemous cartoons: Nine vehicles torched, over six injured in Karachi

Staff Report

KARACHI: Nine vehicles were torched and over half-a-dozen people reportedly sustained bullet wounds during the strike called by the Sunni Tehreek (ST) for Friday. Meanwhile, the police have reportedly taken over a dozen ST workers in custody since Thursday night and the ST has claimed that the arrests were because its workers were just trying to create awareness among people by distributing leaflets, etc.

Nearly 15 people, including two ST workers, sustained bullet injuries because of aerial firing in separate parts of the city. The injured include Saleem, 30, (New Karachi), Shahrukh Khan, 18, (Shafiq Mor), Yawer, 42, (Korangi), Sajjad, 10, (Soldier Bazaar), Kauser Khan (Gulistan-e-Johar), Ghulam Hussain (Risala), Manzur (Saeedabad), Sakina and Mateen (Orangi Town), Atiq (Ranchore Lane), Ali Gohar, Yousuf, an unidentified person (North Karachi) and two ST workers, Saqib and Muslim Qadri, from Shah Faisal Colony and Taimoria respectively.

Meanwhile, nine vehicles and one café were reportedly burnt in different parts of the city.

“We have taken 11 ST workers in custody since Thursday night,” said Karachi Police Chief Niaz Ahmed Siddiqui. “Seven of them were taken into custody as they fled after setting fire to two vehicles in Landhi Town, while four others were taken into custody from Saddar Town as they forcefully closed shops early Friday morning. Cases will be registered against them for taking the law into their own hands.”

Siddiqui said that strict security measures were taken by law enforcers because of which the whole day passed relatively peacefully and without any major incidents. “Just four vehicles were burnt Friday, two of them at Yousuf Plaza and two at Sukhan,” said Siddiqui.

He further said that nearly seven people were reported hurt and it is difficult to judge in which incidents they had sustained bullet injuries.

However, ST central leader Shahid Ghouri, while taking to Daily Times, denied the police chief’s accusations and said that the ST did not cause any disturbance in the city as it was a strike against those who are hurting the Muslims. He added that it was the responsibility of all Muslims to make the strike successful.

“Nearly 20 ST workers were taken into custody from different parts of the city,” claimed Ghouri.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Jamat Ahl-e-Sunnat, Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan (JUP), Tanzeem-ul-Madaaris Ahl-e-Sunnat Pakistan (TMASP), traders, transporters and others groups supported the strike.

Major markets including Jamma Cloth, Bolton, Motan Das, Electronic, Empress, Ranchor Line, Garden, Automobile, Mobile Phone Market on Abdullah Haroon Road, Rainbow Centre, Zaib-un-Nissa Street and others remained closed. The majority of the petrol pumps and CNG stations were also closed while their administration set-up tents around the property to ensure safekeeping.

Public transport also worked at a short frequency because of which attendance at public and private schools, colleges and offices remained low. Police and rangers mobiles patrolled the streets to keep the law and order situation under control.

To protest the blasphemous publications, rallies and demonstrations were organized in different parts of the city after the Friday prayers. JI Karachi organized a demonstration outside Masjid Nauman at Lasbela Chawk. JI Karachi Ameer Muhammad Hussain Mehanti demanded the Pakistani government protest Denmark on a governmental level, oust the Dutch and Danish ambassadors from Pakistan and announce a break-up of diplomatic and trade relations with both Denmark and Holland.

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