KARACHI, Nov 21: Fear on Thursday ran high among Karachiites ahead of Friday protests called by religious parties against the Rawalpindi violence, which claimed almost a dozen lives on Ashura, amid security measures including a 24-hour ban on pillion-riding in the city in a preemptive move ‘to tackle any untoward situation’.

The call for protests came from different organisations, including the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jammat (ASWJ) and the Majlis-i-Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM).

As Karachi remained abuzz with rumours of a strike call, the ASWJ insisted that it would only stage a demonstration at Guru Mandir to condemn the Rawalpindi violence and raise its demand for the arrest of the culprits, while the MWM annnounced that they would hold protest demonstrations in front of Imambargahs.

“There is no strike on Friday,” Aurangzeb Farooqi of the ASWJ told a press conference at the party headquarters in the city. “We appeal to the traders and transporters not to pay heed to rumours and keep running their regular business on Friday as there is no strike call from any quarter. We have only announced that we will organize a peaceful protest at the Guru Mandir traffic intersection after Friday prayers.”

He said the Tibet Centre on main M.A. Jinnah Road was originally chosen as the venue of the protest but later it was shifted to Guru Mandir following a ‘request’ from Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad.

The protest was only meant to condemn the brutality of the Rawalpindi violence which claimed the lives of seminary students and ‘unarmed people offering prayers’, he added.“It’s so unfortunate that in this country one cannot exercise one’s democratic right to lodge protest against brutality but miscreants are allowed to disturb peace without any check. The government should offer us security rather than seeking to affect our peaceful protest,” said Mr Farooqi without elaborating on the ‘government moves’.

In a brief statement, the Sindh home department announced a ban on pillion-riding for 24 hours in Karachi from 12midnight just two days after lifting the ban in place for Muharram-related security measures.

A senior official confirmed that the ASWJ protest plan and fear among the Karachiites led to the sudden move. He said there were extra security measures for Friday across the city to meet any challenge. “We have contacted the parties concerned representing different sects,” said Sharfuddin Memon, a consultant to the home ministry. “We tried to coordinate with everyone and took on board all the parties for the sake of peace in the city. The ban was imposed only to ensure better security arrangements for Friday, as the situation was already tense across the country and we cannot afford anyone exploiting the situation.”

His claims also echoed in a statement issued by the central police office (CPO), which elaborated security measures for Friday protests.

Sindh IG Shahid Nadim Baloch, however, also asked for interfaith harmony, appealing to religious leaders from different schools of thought for their efforts to keep city peaceful.

“The Sindh IG called for enhancing coordinated police patrolling, snap checking and surveillance,” the statement added. “The IGP has also directed that appropriate measures be taken for the security of mosques, Imambargahs, Madaris and public places as well as residential areas of the religious and political as well as social personalities. A vigilant eye be kept at sensitive areas, entry and exit points, railway stations, bus and truck terminals and other areas.”

A strong message also came from the Pakistan Rangers, Sindh, which held a meeting at their headquarters ‘in the wake of the current developments in the country’ and vowed to take up to the challenge if anyone tried ‘to disturb the city’s law and order.’

“The Rangers have been directed to exercise utmost vigilance to identify and arrest terrorists and anyone trying to disturb city’s law and order,” said the Rangers statement. “In this connection, anyone found with a weapon or seen with a weapon will be dealt according to the recent amendments to the anti-terrorist laws. We are also thankful to the religious leaders that they understand the true dynamics of the issue and have kept local population peaceful. Same is expected for tomorrow as well.”

The Thursday evening announcement by the Shia Ulema Council provided some relief to the people when it postponed its Friday protest, which was coinciding with the ASWJ demonstration.

Protest plans by other Shia organizations remained unchanged, however.

“The other Shia organisations have not changed their plan,” said a spokesman for the Majlis-i-Wahdat-i-Muslimeen (MWM). “Along with the MWM, Jafria Alliance, Imamia Students Oragnisation (ISO) and Shia Action Committee would hold joint protest demonstrations outside Imambargahs after Friday prayers. It’s to condemn the Rawalpindi violence and denounce the organised campaign to hit the sectarian harmony.”

With fears and concerns among the Karachiites, unclear and different strategies of the bodies of key business segments further deepened the uncertainty.

Karachi Tajir Ittehad announced regular business on Friday a couple of hours after the Karachi Electronics Dealers Association said the electronic markets across the city would remain closed. The transporters stayed reluctant to take any clear line. “We would decide on Friday morning whether to ply buses or not, considering the level of security,” said Irshad Bukhari of the Karachi Transport Ittehad.