This Article is From May 25, 2009

Swat influx: Shoot-at-sight order in Karachi

Swat influx: Shoot-at-sight order in Karachi

AP image

Karachi: Shoot-at-sight order was issued in Karachi on Monday to quell violence, as agitators protesting against the influx of refugees from the restive Swat valley forced complete shut down in Pakistan's commercial capital.

A local group Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM) forced authorities to wind up shelters, which housed the displaced ethnic Pushthuns from the restive NWFP as they observed the provincial strike.

Abdul Wahid Aresar who heads the JSQM said the province could not accept anymore immigrants as the native Sindhis were being marginalised.

"It is not an issue of helping displaced people but off the existing burden on the province and Karachi," he said.

All major shopping centres, shops and educational institutions were closed in Karachi with a complete shutter down strike in the interior parts of the Sindh province.

The Home department has also extended for a month ban on pillion riding in Karachi and according to the Home Minister Zulfikar Mirza shoot-at-sight order of miscreants had already been issued. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has said that IDPs will be registered and confided to camps

JQSM forced the temporary shelters to be moved, an official said. The UN said today that nearly 2.4 million people have registered with the provincial authorities after feeling the anti-Taliban military offensive from NWFP.
.