Gulf News : Strike call ignored in Karachi

Strike call ignored in Karachi

By Muazzam Khan | Correspondent | October 7, 2007

Karachi: Business continued as usual in Karachi yesterday despite a call to strike by the opposition All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) in protest against the presidential elections.

Traffic was at normal levels and markets remained open. Shopping centres were also busy as people continued shopping just days ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr festival.

"We are fed up of these strikes and protests," said Rashid Hussain, a readymade garments shop owner in the city's central Saddar market.

"These politicians first play with us, and when they cannot get what they want, call for strikes. Why should I lose money by closing my shop during this peak season," he said.

Isolated violence

A few isolated incidents of violence were reported across the city, mainly involving protesters pelting vehicles with stones and burning tyres. No casualties were reported.

In the Sindh Asembly, 104 votes were cast, and the chief minister of the province, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, said all were for President Pervez Musharraf.

Strict security measures were taken for the voting, with a large number of police officers deployed to deal with any potential violence.

Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) boycotted the vote, drawing sharp criticism from Rahim.

"In my view, the PPP has broken the deal by staying away from the presidential vote," he told reporters.

"They must have been fearing that some of their members may vote for President Musharraf on the voice of their conscience," he said.

The members of the Sindh Assembly belonging to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement also voted for Musharraf.