Traders split in support of NA-120 candidates

LAHORE: The traders of major markets and trade associations in the jurisdiction of NA-120 constituency are divided over which candidate to support in the by-poll which is going to be held on September 17, Pakistan Today has observed.

Much like other constituencies of Lahore, the trader community has played a significant role during the past elections of this constituency.

NA-120 is particularly significant because a large area of this constituency comprises of major business centers of Lahore; Abid Market, Hall Road, Urdu Bazar, Mall Road, Naqi Market, Urdu Bazar, Bilal Ganj and others. That is why the candidates of both major political parties, PML-N and PTI are focusing on the trader community in order to seek their support.

Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of PML-N candidate Kalsoom Nawaz, during her visits to the constituency, met different delegations, convincing the office bearers of different trader associations of the area to support her mother. On other hand, PTI’s Dr Yasmin Rashid preferred to meet the small businessmen during her door to door campaign.

However, during the survey of Pakistan Today, traders and office bearer of different markets were found split over the support of both candidates.

President Anjuman-e-Tajiran Hall Road, Mazhar Ameen Butt showed grave reservation against PML-N over unresolved issues of the market. Talking to Pakistan Today, he said that their long demand of removing encroachment from the bazaar has remained unresolved.

Ameen blamed that PML-N has been facilitating a small mafia who have been making illegal constructions in the market. “Most of traders of Hall Road have their votes in other constituency but rulers must have to focus on the poor condition of the market,” he said, adding that the traders are forced to bear a great loss during the last few years.

Expressing his wish, Ameen said that Dr Yasmin Rashid should be elected because she is capable of delivering and resolving the issues of the constituency.

On the other hand, mall traders’ association president Sohail Butt was quite happy with the leadership of PML-N. According to him, PML-N government initiated dynamic policies for bringing about economic stability in the country. Appreciating the leadership, he said that traders were happy as the government has banned rallies and protest at Mall Road which was their basic demand.

Moreover, he said that there was not a single issue of sewerage and water scarcity in the area and people will definitely vote for Kalsoom Nawaz.

A large number of traders at Abid Electronic Market were found in support of PTI. Trader’s leader Mian Tariq Feroz told Pakistan Today that they have unanimously decided to oppose PML-N as it failed to deliver in the past 4 years. He said that beside the issues of Abid market, PML-N’s economic policies made the electronics traders suffer a lot. “We are tired of PML-N. We want better future of the generation and under the leadership of PML-N, this is impossible,” he added.

According to the president of Bilal Ganj market, Rehan Iqbal, rulers have resolved a score of their issues. He said that whenever PML-N came into power, it empowered the small traders because they know the real issues that they face. Rehan said that whenever the traders of Bilal Ganj put some demand before the government, it was met.

Farooq Azad, president of Naqi market traders association, while showing his disappointment, said that the PML-N government has only facilitated selected traders. He said that PML-N has claimed to the stability of national economy but the ground reality is contrary to their claims.