By Mark Bendeich
KARACHI, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Major Pakistani cities stirred
back to life on Monday for the first time since opposition leader
Benazir Bhutto was assassinated, emerging from violent unrest that
paralysed trade and commerce.
The biggest city Karachi, a virtual ghost town at the weekend
after rioters went on a rampage burning shops, banks and cars
began to get back to work.
Banks and shops rolled up shutters, cars and motorbikes
returned to the streets and some petrol pumps opened for business
after a three-day shut-down.
But there were none of the usual traffic jams in this
bustling city of 14 million people, where schools were still
closed and many workers remained at home four days after Bhutto
was slain in a suicide attack.
"The situation is still very shaky right now. Everyone is
afraid," said 25-year-old Mohsin Siddiqi, who works in the
treasury department at Unilever in Karachi.
"One good thing is the (Bhutto) party has called for peace
and will take part in elections. Hopefully that will help things
calm down ... Life is gradually returning to normal."
Bhutto's killing unleashed a wave of violence, especially in
southern Sindh province, Bhutto's home and political stronghold.
Mobs angry at her death torched vehicles and railway stations,
prompting police to adopt a shoot-on-sight policy.
A total of 47 people were killed in the violence.
On Sunday, Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party chose her
19-year-old son Bilawal as her political heir and co-chairman of
the party, along with her widower, Asif Ali Zardari.
VOTE DELAY?
The party's executive committee also declared it would take
part in elections, currently scheduled for Jan. 8 but expected by
political analysts to be delayed.
"The elections should not be delayed as the main parties have
said they will take part," said Akbar Munir, 35, who works in
marketing at a Karachi-based finance company.
"The government will clearly try to delay them, because it is
in their own interest. People are very emotional, and 100 percent
guaranteed the PPP vote will increase because of a wave of
sympathy."
In both Karachi and the northern industrial city of Lahore,
markets begun to re-open on Sunday as residents looked to
re-stock on groceries after a virtual lock-down.
Oil supplies have resumed to many parts of the country and
rail services were set to resume from Karachi after stretches of
track were torn up by protesters.
On Monday, Pakistan's financial markets were due to open,
having been shut on Saturday and Sunday because of the crisis.
Stocks are set to tumble amid concerns that another flare-up
of violence could slam Pakistan's bull run into reverse. A
promising investment story less than a year ago, the country is
now gripped by fears of capital flight if security worsens.
(Additional reporting by Simon Gardner; Editing by Jeremy
Laurence)
((Reuters Messaging [email protected];
Karachi newsroom +92 215 685192))
Keywords: PAKISTAN CRISIS/SCENE