KARACHI. Sept 8: A strike called by opposition parties crippled life today in Pakistan's commercial capital Karachi, with one person reported killed in the early hours, says AFP

The one-day strike was called by 10 opposition parties to protest against the alleged killing on Thursday of an activist from the ethnic-based Mohajir Qauml Movement (MQM) by police. Today is a normal working day In mainly Muslim Pakistan

Police said they found a body of a civilian in the eastern district of Mallr early today while a group of militants torched three vehicles overnight else-

Security was tight with out in major parts of the port city.

Police said around J5 MQM members had been detained overnight for allegedly burning vehicles, although press reports

put the number at around 300

Witnesses said public transport remained off the road® in most parts of the city, but private vehicles were seen plying the routes.

Major shopping centres were closed with retailers in many areas also shutting their shops Thin attendance was reported in government and private of flees, while educational Insti tutions were also affected.

The parties behind the strike included the MQM. the fundamentalist Jamaat-E-Isiami. the Awami National Party and the main opposition Pakistan Muslim League of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif

The protest followed the killing of an MQM activist. Mohammad Farooq, here on Thursday

The opposition said police shot him dead in cold blood after arresting him. while police claimed be died in a gun battle with officers.