Traders have been divided over Jamaat-e-Islami’s nationwide shutter-down strike, with business centres closed in Karachi while markets remained open in Lahore.
In Karachi, President of the Electronics Dealers Association Rizwan Irfan said traders had closed their businesses to express their anger and concerns.
He claimed that 100% of Karachi’s major commercial centres were closed, calling the strike peaceful and successful.
Rizwan Irfan urged the government to provide relief to the public and address traders’ concerns immediately.
He warned that the scope of the strike could be expanded if issues, including the petroleum levy, were not resolved.
He added that some markets remained open because of the nature of their businesses.
Meanwhile, President of the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran Ajmal Baloch opposed the nationwide shutter-down strike.
He said businesses across the country would remain open as usual.
Ajmal Baloch said the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran was a non-political platform. He added that traders had never gone on strike at the call of a political party.
He urged the government to end the smart lockdown in Punjab and Islamabad and allow traders to operate without restrictions.
In Lahore, President of the Anjuman-e-Tajiran Mujahid Maqsood Butt also rejected Jamaat-e-Islami’s call for a nationwide shutter-down strike.
He said all major markets in Lahore were open as usual. He also alleged that traders were being threatened to force them to join the strike.
Mujahid Maqsood Butt demanded the abolition of the Para Force in Punjab.
He questioned Jamaat-e-Islami’s stance, saying the party had remained silent when traders were allegedly facing pressure from the Para Force.
However, business centres are reportedly closed in various areas of Lahore, including Queens Road, Abid Market, Hall Road, Mall Road, Nisbat Road Market, Ferozepur Road and Brandreth Road.
