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SIALKOT, April 14: A complete shutterdown strike was observed across Punjab in protest against the Karachi’s carnage. In Sialkot and Narowal, all shops, markets, financial and business institutions remained closed on the appeal of the Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajran. While most of factories also joined the strike.
In Sialkot, the Jamaat Ahle Sunnah and the Sunni Tehrik took out a protest rally after the Friday prayers which was led by AJK minister Sahibzada Hamid Raza and local MMA leadership.
A large number of people, including traders, journalists, lawyers and ulema belonging to all sects, participated in the rally.
The rally started from Jamia Masjid, Doonga Bagh, and ended at the Allama Iqbal Chowk after passing through main roads and bazaars. Carrying banners and placards, protesters chanted anti-terrorism slogans and demanded immediate arrest of terrorists. A heavy police contingent and Elite Force personnel were deployed.
Meanwhile, lawyers in Sialkot, Daska, Sambrial, Pasrur, Shakargarh and Narowal also observed strike.
District Nazim Muhammad Akmal Cheema, DCO Maj Rizwanullah Baig (retired) and DPO Dr Tariq Khokhar visited various city localities and reviewed the overall situation. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the district.
VEHARI: On the call of the Sunni Tehrik and the Anjuman Tajran, all shopping centres and markets remained shut.
The policemen were deployed in force on all main roads.
Leaders of local Sunni Tehrik and other religious parties gathered in the Grain Market mosque to register their protest against the killings.
They ripped to shreds the government for its failure to maintaining peace in the country. They also demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.
A complete shutterdown was also observed in Mailsi and Burewala.
MIANWALI: Except for a few tea shops at the bus stand, all main bazaars and shopping centres presented a deserted look.
Prayer leaders of different mosques condemned the government for its failure to provide security to the general public.
They called upon the government to arrest terrorists without any delay. They said the Nishtar Park blast was aimed at eliminating all leaders of the Sunni Tehrik.
Meanwhile, the DBA boycotted court proceedings.
OKARA: The MMA took out a protest rally after Friday prayers.
Activists of the MMA chanted slogans against the government and demanded immediate removal of the Sindh governor.
A big protest gathering was also held at Jamia Ghousia where Maulana Qazi Aslam Qadri, Mufti Iqbal Chishti, Sahibzada Fazalur Rehman and Shahzad Anjum Ansari called upon the government to trace culprits involved in the carnage and unveil the conspiracy behind it.
KASUR: All business activities remained suspended in Chhanga Manga, Chunian and Pattoki while partial strike was observed in Kasur.
