Karachi turns into ghost city

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

KARACHI: A complete shutdown was witnessed in the city on Tuesday in the wake of the violence following the assassination of MPA Raza Haider and the mourning call given by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) over the murder of its lawmaker.

Meanwhile, 20 more people were killed in different parts of the city, as the death toll of the people killed in the violence that erupted on Monday evening hit 55.

All commercial activities were shut down in view of the law and order situation as shops, markets, petrol pumps, industries remained closed. Moreover, more than 155 people were injured and over 35 vehicles were set ablaze as the city suffered a loss of approximately Rs 3.0 billion within 24 hours.

Five vehicles in Surjani Town and various roadside stalls and four hardware shops in Ayesha Manzil, Federal B Area were torched.

The overall situation remained tense while incidents of firing and arson were reported in many areas as law enforcers failed to stop the ongoing violence.

The citizens were forced to remain indoors and could not reach their offices due to the unavailability of public transport. Despite heavy deployment of law enforcement agencies personnel business activities remained close. Many residents expressed their anger on the terrible law and order situation in the city towards the government.

People from different walks of life said that why has the government banned pillion riding when they could not curtail the targeted killings and provide foolproof security to the citizens’ life and property. Many said they lost their vehicles in arson attacks while security forces looked helpless to stop the miscreants.

People said despite the ban on pillion riding, exhibition of weapons and extraordinary powers to Rangers, the city was witnessing a terrible law and order situation and the government looked powerless.

They also said Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza has already accepted that Rangers and police have failed to curb targeted killings, so why was the government not calling the army?

The people said the government was not serious to take action against land grabbers, drugs peddlers and other criminals because the government was itself supporting them. They said the political parties always claimed the critical situation of the city was due to land grabbing then why was the government not taking action against the land grabbers.

According to hospital sources, at least 55 people have been killed in two days. However, the chief city police officer said at least 39 people have been gunned down in the metropolis.