Business community in Karachi and some other cities of Sindh observed shutter-down strike on Saturday against the extortion mafia. The strike was announced by traders and supported by MQM, Sunni Tehreek and some other political groups.

All the major shopping and trading centers remained completely shut however shops in Shanti Nagar, Memon Goth, Sachal Goth, some parts of Lyari, Ghazi Goth, Ibrahim Hyderi, Rehri Goth, Yousuf Goth and a number of other localities of Karachi remained open with daily life activities as usual.

The transport was thin at the roads because of fear of violence, however rickshaws, taxis in large number and buses and minibuses in very low number continued to ply.

The rickshaws and taxis charged high fares taking benefit of strike. The petrol pumps of the city were also closed since last night due to fear of arson.

According to eyewitnesses, ‘activists’ were seen busy making sure that late-night markets and petrol pumps were closed across the city. On Saturday, a group of persons tried to block railway crossing at Drigh Road, Shahra-e-Faisal, however, heavy contingent of police reached the spot on time to control the situation.

Some miscreants burnt a bus at Gharibabad under-pass while tyres were also set on fire at Liaqatabad Road. Matriculation examinations set for Saturday were also postponed.

A new schedule for the exams would be announced later. FederalUrduUniversity and DowUniversity also cancelled examinations that were due today.