July 17 was not a normal day at the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE). Prolonged economic and political depression and exhaustion finally led the investors to resort to violent protests at all the three bourses of the country.
Close to 1,000 mostly small investors gathered at the KSE and ransacked furniture of the exchange building, pelted glass doors and windows of the trading hall with stones and raised slogans against the government and the KSE management.
The management was left with no choice but to call the police and Rangers to control the violent situation.

The violence was not only restricted to Karachi, but the investors of Lahore and Islamabad stock exchanges also went on a rampage. They chanted slogans, pelted stones, burned tyres and blocked roads. They demanded an end to 'lower locks', which according to them had greatly eroded the value of their stocks. “There is a limit and that limit is over. The investors have been ruined. Their shares are not selling and the rates have come down substantially and this led to the ransacking," an angry investor told media at the market, adding that "investors are now compelled to sell their houses".
From May to July 17 the Karachi stock market has witnessed "great depression" because of the uncertain political and economic future of the country.
The market has lost its capital to the tune of over Rs1.3 trillion. The fall of July 17 was the 16th unstoppable downward trading session in a row, and the situation did not allow the investors to seek an exit from the declining market.
On the day Karachi stock market's bench mark KSE 100 index resumed the bearish spell and opened at 400 points in the negative territory. The index has lost over 5,600 points between May to July 17.
During the prolonged bearish spell and huge market falls the government remained silent which also infuriated the investors. Besides the financial institutions were unwilling to come to the rescue of the market which they sometimes do in such situations.
Many market participants blamed the uncertain political situation and deteriorating economic indicators for the incessant bear run.
Market players say that the political and economic situation has also disappointed foreign investors who are running away from the market by selling their positions.
Though, the management of the stock market came up with a bail-out package and decided to buy shares worth Rs4.25 billion in a hurriedly called meeting, analysts say market needs long-term political and economical stability. 
Pakistan is suffering from its worst political and economical crisis.
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that half of Pakistan’s population or 77 million people are food insecure.
According to the WFP, food insecure means people are unable to get sufficient nutritious food to meet dietary needs.
Though the country has not seen serious food protests, experts are not ruling out possibility of the danger that is looming ahead.
The violence at the stock markets should not be seen in isolation because it is a response to the prevailing uncertainties whether political or economical.
The government of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has come into power with the slogan of Roti, Kapra aur Makan (food, clothing and shelter). If the incumbent government ignores the ground realities and fails to provide the basic necessities of life to the poor and underprivileged segment of the society then a worse crisis would be imminent.
Apart from the food crisis Pakistan is also facing the foreign exchange problems due to depreciating national currency which is trading at its lowest level. Liquid reserves have also come down to $10 billion.
The central bank is again expected to raise its key discount rate in its next monetary policy. The interest rate hike would cast a negative impact on the equity and financial markets.
The last government had printed currency notes in abundance and violated the norms that boosted the burgeoning inflation. The present government will have to bring back former prime minister Shaukat Aziz for accountability.
Analysts say that the demonstrations at the bourses, which occurred due to mismanagement, were the first incident of mass protest, and if corrective measures are not taken then it should not be considered to the first and last. More are bound to follow.