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Riots erupt despite Karachi shutdown
(AP)

2 June 2005


KARACHI — Dozens of stone-throwing youths set fire to shops in Karachi yesterday as sectarian unrest rumbled on despite a citywide shutdown called by Muttahida Majlise Amal (MMA) to protest violence that has left 12 dead this week.

About 100 Sunnis rioted in the city’s eastern Malir neighbourhood after the funeral of a Sunni man who was killed in a shootout with Shias on Tuesday night, said police officer Wasim Akbar Baloch. They set fire to several small shops and threw stones at police, who used tear gas and fired guns in the air to control the crowd, he said.

Otherwise, the city was tense but quiet. Most shops and businesses were closed, and there was little traffic on the streets.

The MMA called for the shutdown in response to the kidnapping and killing of one of its leaders on Monday, as well as a suicide attack on a Shia mosque and a riot in which a KFC restaurant was set ablaze.

“The public has given full support to the strike against terrorism. Business in the city is closed,” said Merajul Huda, the Karachi chief of Jamaate Islami, a key party in the alliance.

Tariq Jamil, Karachi police chief, said except for ‘one or two’ places in the city where protesters pelted passing cars with stones, yesterday’s strike was peaceful.

He said 56 people have been arrested for arson attacks and violence in the city in the past two days that has raised fears of escalating violence between minority Shias and Sunnis — a recurring problem in the country in recent years.

Many businessmen supported the strike.

“Today’s strike is a denouncement of terrorism and to mourn innocent victims,” said Tahir Sultan, a seller of artificial food flavours.

Our Karachi correspondent adds: MMA strike call received a huge response in Karachi where traffic remained thin while there was almost a complete shutdown across the city yesterday.

Tension gripped several localities of the city on Tuesday night after the strike call was given by MMA to protest against the killing of Jamate Islami leader Aslam Mujahid.

On Tuesday night and early yesterday, miscreants burnt tyres at different places to obstruct traffic and force people to remain indoors.

Police said since Tuesday night 50 persons had been arrested for creating law and order situation.

There was low attendance in the offices as public transport remained off road.

Sources said that situation was tense in Pirabad, Manghopir, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Gulistan-e-Johar, Sohrab, Goth, Kharadar, and other old areas of the city.

Reports claimed that tyres were burnt in Korangi and Quidabad areas and there were also reports of burning tyres in Baloch Colony bridge.


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