The city remained idle on Saturday after a strike call given by the religious organisations to protest against the failure to arrest the culprits involved in the Nishtar Park carnage here on April 11.
The strike call was given by Ulema-e-Ahl-e-Sunnat and later received the support of various political parties including ARD, ANP and the Jamaat-i-Islami.
The city transporters also supported the strike call as a majority of public transport remained off the road during the day, but a small number of taxis, rickshaw and private cars were seen plying on different city roads.
All the major commercial centres, markets and shops remained closed, including M A Jinnah Road, Saddar, Nazimabad, Burns Road, Mehmoodabad, Orangi Town, Liaquatabad, Banaras, Golimar, Garden, Malir, Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Gulstan-e-Jauhar, Baldia, Ranchore Lines, Soldier Bazaar, Malir, Shah Faisal Colony and a few other areas of the city.
At some localities, besides the petrol stations bakeries and milk shops remained opened.
The examination process was also affected as the boards and Karachi University had postponed the papers scheduled for Saturday. The city administration deployed contingents of police in various areas to avert any untoward incident.