.Swat unrest prompts strike in Pakistan finance hub
KARACHI, Pakistan (AFP) — Shops in Pakistan's volatile financial hub Karachi closed, witnesses said, after nationalists called a strike to protest the arrival of refugees from the conflict-hit northwest.
The Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) movement, which promotes the cause of natives of southern Sindh province, opposes the influx of ethnic Pashtuns fleeing a military offensive in three northwest districts.
Pakistan's security forces are currently locked in battle with Taliban militants in the Swat valley, and more than 1.7 million people have fled the conflict-hit region since the assault began late last month.
"We don't see it as just an issue of helping the displaced people," said Abdul Wahid Aresar, who heads the JSQM.
"The motive behind their arrival in the southern-most part of Pakistan from the north is to marginalise the native Sindhis, which we will resist."
Residents of Karachi said that only a small number of the displaced were arriving in the financial capital, and most were staying with relatives.
Tensions between the Urdu-speaking Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) -- a partner in the national government -- and Pashtuns from northwest Pakistan who flock to Karachi looking for jobs are traditionally a source of unrest.
Late last month, armed ethnic clashes between Pashtuns and Urdu-speaking groups in Karachi killed at least 34 people.
A leader of the MQM, which has a powerbase in the city, said they did not back the strike action, but voiced concern at the handling of the influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
"We don't support this strike call but yes, we want the IDP issue to be managed properly," said Shoaib Bokhari. "We have not stopped the IDPs' arrival in Sindh, but they should be registered and kept in camps outside our cities."
It was the second strike called by JSQM. Shops also shut on Saturday.
Provincial home minister Zulfiqar Mirza said the authorities had issued "shoot-on-sight" orders in case of an outbreak of violence, but the city remained calm and peaceful.
More than half of the shops and marketplaces in Karachi -- Pakistan's largest city -- remained closed Monday, while attendance in government and private offices was sparse and fewer vehicles than normal plied the roads.
"We have received no report of disturbances," city police chief Waseem Ahmed told AFP.
The city's stock market was open, port operations were running as usual and flight operations for international and domestic destinations were uninterrupted, officials said.
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The Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) movement, which promotes the cause of natives of southern Sindh province, opposes the influx of ethnic Pashtuns fleeing a military offensive in three northwest districts.
Pakistan's security forces are currently locked in battle with Taliban militants in the Swat valley, and more than 1.7 million people have fled the conflict-hit region since the assault began late last month.
"We don't see it as just an issue of helping the displaced people," said Abdul Wahid Aresar, who heads the JSQM.
"The motive behind their arrival in the southern-most part of Pakistan from the north is to marginalise the native Sindhis, which we will resist."
Residents of Karachi said that only a small number of the displaced were arriving in the financial capital, and most were staying with relatives.
Tensions between the Urdu-speaking Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) -- a partner in the national government -- and Pashtuns from northwest Pakistan who flock to Karachi looking for jobs are traditionally a source of unrest.
Late last month, armed ethnic clashes between Pashtuns and Urdu-speaking groups in Karachi killed at least 34 people.
A leader of the MQM, which has a powerbase in the city, said they did not back the strike action, but voiced concern at the handling of the influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
"We don't support this strike call but yes, we want the IDP issue to be managed properly," said Shoaib Bokhari. "We have not stopped the IDPs' arrival in Sindh, but they should be registered and kept in camps outside our cities."
It was the second strike called by JSQM. Shops also shut on Saturday.
Provincial home minister Zulfiqar Mirza said the authorities had issued "shoot-on-sight" orders in case of an outbreak of violence, but the city remained calm and peaceful.
More than half of the shops and marketplaces in Karachi -- Pakistan's largest city -- remained closed Monday, while attendance in government and private offices was sparse and fewer vehicles than normal plied the roads.
"We have received no report of disturbances," city police chief Waseem Ahmed told AFP.
The city's stock market was open, port operations were running as usual and flight operations for international and domestic destinations were uninterrupted, officials said.
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