KARACHI - Normalcy returns to the port city after the strike of five hours in which at least five vehicles were set on fire.
According to details, withdrawal of strike call given by the MQM against the Abbas Town tragedy brought the city back to normal.
Earlier, unknown miscreants resorted to firing and shut down the markets, hotels and shops forcibly across the City while public and private transport disappeared from the roads within the few minutes. Incidents of firing by unknown people in Karachi forced the whole city to close in half an hour time.
According to the police, different areas of the metropolis, including Malir, Saddar, Jinnah Square, Safoora, Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Nazimabad, Paposh Nagar, Haidri, Korangi, Landhi, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and several other areas were closed after the aerial firing incidents by unidentified persons.
Violence reported from various areas of metropolis where stalls were set on fire by unidentified men. Five passenger buses were set on fire in different areas of the City, including Landhi, North Karachi, New Karachi and Alnoor Society.
However, Rangers claimed to have arrested at least 15 people over allegedly shutting down the markets and public transport forcibly.
All major markets, including Sarafa market, Electronic market, shops, petrol pumps and other business activities were also seen closed suddenly. The situation remained unstable across the City with police and hospitals on high alert.
The public transport operators too announced that all the transport would stop operating while the trucks and oil tankers associations announced that they have stopped vehicles outside the City to save them from violence. The trucks and oil tankers would not enter the City till the violence ends.
The violence and panic created massive traffic jam at MA Jinnah Road, II Chundrigar Road, near Sindh secretariat, Shahrah-e-Faisal and other roads as the people wanted to rush to their homes. Following the withdrawal of MQM decision, transporters, traders and educational institutions were also called off suspension of their professional activities.