Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman calls for shutter down strike

Traders associations in Karachi, Lahore and Gujranwala have announced their full support for the strike

KARACHI: After continuous protest in Lahore and other parts of the country, Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman , ex- Chairman Ruet-e-Hilal Committee called for a nationwide shutter down strike today.

Several political and religious parties have joined hand of Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

Leaders of the opposition parties including Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, too, condemned the Lahore violence in a media talk in Islamabad and expressed support for Mufti Muneeb for his strike call.

Cleric Mufti Taqi Usmani, meanwhile, condemned the way the government handled the protesters in Lahore, saying the attacks on the police by “certain” people were certainly wrong, but that the government should act wisely. Karachi, Lahore, Gujranwala traders support strike call.

Traders associations in Karachi, Lahore and Gujranwala have announced their full support for the strike.

The All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajaran in Lahore, All Karachi Traders Union and Karachi Traders Association have announced that traders will keep shutters down.

Business and commercial centres in the cities will stay closed. Several petrol pumps and CNG stations in Karachi are also closed.

Sunday’s attack on a Lahore police station

On Sunday, the police and Rangers conducted an operation to disperse the protesters of the banned religiopolitical party from Yateem Khana Chowk in Lahore.

During the operation, all roads leading to the roundabout were closed, while there were reports of protracted clashes between law enforcers and protesters.

There were also reports of multiple casualties during the clashes.

In an apparent reference to TLP protesters, Punjab CM’s aide Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan had said that “miscreants” armed with petrol bombs attacked the Nawankot police station, taking 12 policemen hostage and leaving six injured.

Sharing a statement by the Lahore police, she had said that owing to the attack, in which the attackers used petrol bombs and bottles of acid, Rangers and police personnel were trapped inside the police station.