The traders’ organisations of the city and Cantonment area seem divided over the call given by Markazi Anjuman-e-Tajran Rawalpindi to observe complete shutter down strike on Saturday against power load shedding.
There are three major factions of the business community, known as Sheikh Siddique, Shahid Ghafoor Paracha and Chaudhry Imran groups. The first two factions, comprising traders of Raja Bazar, Cloth Market and Moti Bazar under the aegis of the Markazi Anjuman-e-Tajran Rawalpindi, are in favour of observing strike to register their protest against the prevailing electricity situation and increasing inflation. They are of the view that hours-long power outages have badly affected their business and rendered many workers jobless. The Imran group, representing Nankari Bazaar, Dalgaran Bazaar, Furniture Dealers Association, Banni Market, Mobile Phones Association and Goods Transport Association, has criticised the protesting traders for damaging the public property worth millions of rupees in the violent protest staged on June 19 (Tuesday). According to the Rawalpindi Development Authority, the protesters damaged traffic signals and protective fences along the roads worth Rs 5 million.
