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 Advocate’s house doors were broken, the entire house was plundered, thirty-two thousand rupees, jewellery and ornaments saved up for the dowry of the daughter’s 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 today’s 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.