MULTAN, Dec 29: The city presented a melancholic and deserted look on Saturday as all major business centres, petrol pumps and gas stations remained closed and transport remained off the road in protest against Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.

Funeral prayers for Ms Bhutto were offered in several areas of the city. Funeral prayers for Ms Bhutto will also be offered outside Qila Kuhna Qasim Bagh at 5:30pm on Monday.

Wearing black armbands and carrying black flags, PPP workers blocked Nawan Shehr Chowk and raised slogans against President Pervez Musharraf. They tried to hold a rally at Chungi 9, but the police action forced them to flee.

PPP Punjab President Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi has directed the party’s all district office-bearers to hold ‘qul’ for Ms Bhutto. The complete strike crippled the city. People bought petrol for Rs120 per litre as most petrol pumps and gas stations remained closed.

VEHARI: The entire district remained deserted on the third day of Ms Bhutto’s assassination.

Public and private vehicles remained off the road and fuel stations and business centres remained closed. The PML-Q closed its election offices throughout the district to avoid protesters’ wrath and removed its banners, posters and hoardings, which it had installed in connection with its election campaign.

The PPP activists held protest rallies in Burewala, Mailsi, Tibba, Gagoo and Karampur. They burnt PML-Q banners, posters and offices in various parts of the district. Police were deployed at the residences of PML-Q candidates.