April 14, 2006	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 15, 1427

KARACHI, April 13: Army was deployed at sensitive places in the metropolis on Thursday in aid to the police and Rangers to maintain law and order in the aftermath of the Tuesday blast at Nishtar Park in which 47 people, including religious scholars, were killed and 103 others injured.

The decision of army deployment was taken on the request of the provincial government as the city’s life has come to a halt.

Officials in the Sindh government and the police feared break out of violence at the funeral prayers of Sunni Tehrik’s leaders as participants appeared emotional and atmosphere charged.

An ISPR spokesman said that the deployment of army was made at some places in four or five sensitive areas. “We are at place and we can reach in the shortest possible time where the government would call us,” he added.

He said that the Sindh government had made a request that it might need troops to maintain law and order in the city.

Although deployment of Rangers and police was made across the city, sporadic incidents of violence were reported from different areas in which four more vehicles were set on fire. Despite the deployment, shops and markets remained closed in most of the areas and business activities remained suspended.

Late on Thursday night, a state of fear prevailed in various localities as streetlights were switched off and shops remained closed. Only a few vehicles were seen plying. People continued to make phone calls to newspaper offices to know about the law and order situation.

Earlier in the day, army personnel in trucks and armoured personnel carriers paraded on different roads of the metropolis.

Rangers and police also intensified their patrolling. No untoward incident was reported from any area after the funeral prayers and burial of Sunni Tehrik leaders although a tense calm prevailed in certain localities.

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