Karachi shuts to protest Ashura procession attack

Updated at: 1307 PST, Friday, January 01, 2010 KARACHI: Pakistan's commercial capital Karachi nearly shut down on Friday as religious and political leaders called a strike to protest against violence after a suicide bomber killed 43 people at a Ashura procession. The streets of Karachi were nearly empty. The stock exchange was closed. Karachi Transport Ittihad, Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Jaffaria Alliance and several other political parties backed the strike call. The transport is completely off the road, however, private vehicles witnessed on the roads. All papers scheduled today have already been canceled.