RAWALPINDI
APP
Trade bodies Monday rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s call for civil disobedience saying that the marches in the federal capital had already incurred enough losses to their businesses and the economy as a whole.
Markazi Anjuman-e-Tajran President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha said that the call of civil disobedience was tantamount to undermining the country’s economy and the step would increase lawlessness and poverty in the country. He said that the speeches being delivered at the sit-in of Imran Khan were not more than “rhetoric” and the difficulties being confronted by the masses needed just committed approach which was being followed by the incumbent government.
Traders Action Committee President Sharjeel Mir said that Khan’s civil disobedience call was “unjustified” and did not have any support of the citizens, particularly the business community. The stock market, after PTI and PAT marches, had recorded billions of rupees losses.
Traders would not accept the PTI’s controversial call as the traders were facing huge losses due to the strikes, Azadi and Inqilab marches, he added.
NOT JUST CAPITAL, ENTIRE ECONOMY IS SUFFERING:
Moreover, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Shaban Khalid said the sit-ins were proving to be destructive not only for the capital’s traders and businessmen, but also for the country’s economy.
“The country has been facing different challenges, including terrorism, extremism and energy. It cannot afford such activities that cause political instability, and affect the economy.”
He urged the government to talk to the leadership of PTI and PAT for ending this adverse situation in the city. He also urged all the political leaders to show maturity and give priority to national interests over their personal ones. He said the business activities remained suspended for 10 days due to the Eidul Fitr and now the PTI’s long march and then sit-in had upset the business community as to how many days they would have to keep their outlets closed down.
PLEASE LET US WORK IN PEACE:
Former ICCI president Ijaz Abbassi said that the sit-ins were harming business activities in the city.
“To me, the PTI must review its decision and take some other measures to achieve its political objectives which should not hurt the country’s economy,” he said, adding that if the PTI thought that holding of march was its democratic right, then it was also the democratic and constitutional right of traders to run their businesses in a peaceful atmosphere.
Both the local traders and residents were also facing problems due to the sit-ins as the supply of grocery, fruits and vegetables had been suspended for the last several days causing severe shortage of the commodities, he added.
Shahid Khan, a shopkeeper in G-7 Markaz market, said that his daily business had been severely affected due to the prevailing situation.
“The supply of daily use items, including eggs, wheat flour, milk and others is suspended for six days, which have caused problems not only for them (traders), but also for the consumers,” he added.
Meanwhile, transporters and taxi drivers also strongly criticized the PTI’s sit-in, which they said, had disturbed their routine business.
“They are facing problems to earn livelihood for their children.”
“We are not bringing our taxis on the roads fearing damage to the vehicles”, said a desperate Taxi driver, Nadeem Akhtar.
Mushtaq Ahmed, a property dealer in F-8 Markaz, expressed his concern over the sit-in saying that his business remained suspended due to the ongoing situation.
