Complete shutter-down strike was observed in Multan and other parts of southern Punjab at the call of opposition. All bazaars, shopping centres, plazas and wholesale markets remained closed to express solidarity with Balochistan people and to express anger on the killing of Akbar Bugti.
Lawyers also observed strike and did not perform their professional duties. "Since we are part of the society, we are also observing strike and black day when everyone is protesting against the killing of Akbar Buti," said Athar Shah Bukhari, President of District Bar Association, Multan.
People blocked the Dera Ghazi Khan -Loralai road by putting hurdles. "It is a successful strike and the whole nation is observing strike to mark it a black day at the call of APC to express solidarity with the people of Balochistan," said Khalid Hanif Lodhi, local chief of ARD.
He said that "children are playing cricket in the busiest streets" and 80 percent people were confined to their homes. All schools, government offices, colleges, and banks remained open. However, traffic on roads was very thin. Hidayatullah Pasroori, chief of MMA, said,"People of Multan are expressing complete solidarity with the people of Balochistan and condemn this barbaric act of Musharraf regime and demanding of Musharraf to immediately quit as he is responsible for assassination of Akbar Bugti." He demanded that all missing persons and political prisoners from Balochistan and rest of the country be immediately released and Supreme Court and Balochistan High Court should take suo motu notice of the assassination of Akbar Bugti and issue direction for registration of a murder case.