Businesses, schools in Karachi to remain shut on Thursday

KARACHI: Karachi braced for a virtual shutdown on Thursday as representatives of major associations of traders, transporters and private schools endorsed a strike call by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

The MQM announced “a peaceful strike” in the port city after party worker Suhail Ahmed was found dead earlier today in Mauripur area. Ahmed was MQM's unit incharge of the Society neighbourhood.

Soon after the MQM’s Raabta Committee made the appeal Wednesday evening, the secretary of the main transporters association Mehmood Afridi endorsed the strike call, saying that all public transport would remain suspended the next day.

The call was also backed by the CNG and Petroleum Dealers Association and the Sindh Traders Association.

“All businesses and commercial centres will remain shut on Thursday on MQM’s appeal for a day of mourning,” said a statement from the chairman of the Sindh Traders Association Jamil Paracha.

“All private schools in Sindh will also remain closed tomorrow,” said another statement from the main association for for private schools in the province.

The Karachi University also postponed its examinations scheduled for Thursday until further notice.

Petrol stations and shops had already begun to shut down in several parts of the metropolis, including Bahadrabad, Sharifabad, Tariq Road, PIB Colony and several other areas.

Despite the MQM’s call for observing a day of mourning, Sindh Education Minister Nisar Khuhro said that all schools will remain open on Thursday. Khuhro hoped that students would not be stopped from going to their educational institutions.