Trade, commercial, business, academic and social activities in the city, came to a standstill after people took to streets in large number protesting against Zulfiqar Mirza's remarks. Public transport stayed off the road, as the incidents of violence left at least 15 people dead and consumed over 30 vehicles. Some miscreants also set ablaze several shops in different markets, which according to eye witnesses largely belonged to ethnic Pushtuns.
About a dozen of MQM workers staged a protest demonstration outside Karachi Press Club against Zulfiqar Mirza for his outburst against their central leadership during his controversial speech last night. They were holding placards inscribed with "remove and punish Zulfiqar Mirza". They also chanted slogans against the former home minister.
Talking to Business Recorder, All Karachi Tajir Ittehad Chairman Muhammad Atiq Mir said "the time is ripe for the army to impose curfew and carry out a widespread de-weaponisation campaign to restore permanent peace in the city". He said that the uncalled for comments by Zulfiqar Mirza against the MQM leadership and ethnic Urdu speaking people had caused widespread resentment in the city. He added that businessmen had suffered at least Rs 3 billion loss.
He said that markets and trade centres remained fully closed with grain, vegetable, fruit, medicines and other essential commodities supply suspended to the rest of the city. Atiq Mir said that continued violence in the city had kept investors away from the metropolis. "No foreign investment could come here as long as the trend of politics stays unchanged with the rising violence," Atiq Mir said, adding that the PPP government had to take brisk action to restore peace in the city.
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