Islamabad, Apr 08: Traders went on a day-long strike in several Pakistani cities today to express anger over the death and destruction from the US-led war in Iraq.
Shops, markets and business houses were closed at several places in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and parts of central Punjab province, but activity remained close to normal in the commercial hubs of Karachi and Lahore.
"The strike is complete, all bazaars are closed," residents in the NWFP capital Peshawar said.
Black banners inscribed with slogans such as "death to America" and appeals for all Muslims to unite against Washington festooned main shopping centres.
Some 120 local organisations backed the strike call issued by a traders convention held in the Punjabi city
of Bahawalpur last week.
The six-party Islamic Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA)-- which rules NWFP -- also supported the strike, but several rival trader organisations did not heed the call.
The strike was also observed in several cities of Punjab province, the political heartland of Pakistan.
All shopping centres including wholesale markets remained closed in Multan, Muzaffargarh, Lieh, Dera Ghazi Khan and other cities in lower Punjab.
Bureau Report
