Shutdown threatened for Pakistan's largest city
KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) - A powerful political party in Pakistan's largest city is calling for a general strike to pressure the government to arrest militants behind a deadly bombing in a Shiite Muslim neighborhood that killed 48 people.
Raza Haroon, a lawmaker from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, on Wednesday appealed to the city's business community to observe an indefinite strike in solidarity with those who died in the Sunday blast.
The MQM is the dominant political party in Karachi, and its call for a strike carries significant weight. Karachi is Pakistan's economic hub. An extended strike could have negative effects across the country.
No one has claimed responsibility for Sunday's attack. Sunni militant groups who don't believe Shiites are true Muslims have claimed responsibility for similar incidents in the past.