MQM-called bandh hits normal life in Karachi

Normal life and business activities remained suspended in Pakistan's biggest city today after the MQM called for a day of mourning over the killing of a party legislator and his son by the Taliban militants.
Sajid Qureshi, a Muttahida Quami Movement legislator (MQM) in Sindh Assembly, and his 26-year-old son were gunned down yesterday when they emerged from the mosque in North Nazimabad area after Friday prayers.
All shopping centres, markets, petrol pumps and offices remained closed as public and private transport remained off the roads, giving a deserted look to the metropolitan city.
By evening the MQM announced that businesses should reopen and public transport to resume service.

But it said it will carry out peaceful demonstrations all over the city tomorrow to protest the law and order situation and the killing and kidnapping of its workers and members.
The protests would be held to highlight the killing and prosecution of its workers and members, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, deputy convenor of the MQM coordination committee, told reporters.

"Sajid Qureshi and his son Waqas Qureshi were killed openly on Friday for which the Tehreek-e-Taliban has claimed responsibility while in the past also our lawmakers have been targeted," he said.
Qureshi was the third MQM leader to be targeted and killed.

MQM leader Abdul Rashid appealed to the authorities concerned to take action against the killers.
Life also remained affected in rural areas of the Sindh province due to the MQM mourning day.