Protests, violence grip Karachi, interior Sindh Former MQM MPA’s arrest...Violence forces sudden closure of schools, public transport, business centres

The News KARACHI/HYDERABAD: Protests and shutdowns were observed in Karachi, Hyderabad and other parts of Sindh on Wednesday against the arrest of former Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) MPA Nadeem Hashmi. The protests and acts of violence forced schools and business centres to close while transport remained off the roads.Former MQM MPA Nadeem Hashmi was arrested late on Tuesday night over his suspected involvement in the murder of two policemen in the North Nazimabad area on Tuesday night and was subsequently shifted to the Pirabad police station. Reports say Hashmi is accused of firing at a police mobile in the Haideri area on Tuesday in which the two policemen were killed.Similarly, the situation in Hyderabad, Sukkur, Khairpur and some other cities of Sindh also remained tense as markets, shops and schools were partially closed down and traffic was thin.Rangers personnel patrolled the streets of Hyderabad and searched vehicles and pedestrians in the city.