HYDERABAD: A strike was observed in the city on Wednesday on a call issued by the Pakistan Sunni Tehreek against the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden.

The strike remained effective till 3pm in all markets and main bazaars of the city and afterwards shops started to open.

Filling stations also remained shut and vehicular traffic remained thin on roads. Activists of the Sunni Tehreek held a protest at Hyder Chowk and torched the flag of Sweden. Traders and shopkeepers also joined the protest.

Addressing the protesters, Imran Suharwardy, Khalid Hussain Attari, Sajid Kazmi and Mufti Jawad Barkati said the incident had hurt religious sentiments of Muslims all over the world.

They termed the incident a serious act of terrorism and demanded the government call its ambassador from Sweden along with the entire diplomatic staff.

Meanwhile, the Hyder-abad Wholesale Pharma Owners Associ-ation also staged a rally which culminated at the local press club. Raising slogans against the Sweden government, they said the Muslim umma should show unity over the blasphemous action.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2023