Up in arms: Shopkeepers observe strike in Abbottabad

Protesters say spike in rent was unjust, deprived 400 families of rights

ABBOTABAD: Shopkeepers of Cantonment Plaza in Abbottabad observed a shutterdown strike on Monday to protest against the increase in rent rates.

A majority of shopkeepers closed their businesses from 11am to 1pm. The protesters gathered outside Cantonment Plaza and raised slogans against the sudden spike in their monthly rent. They also took out a procession and marched on different roads of the city.

The demonstrators said the relevant authorities have rented out over 400 shops in the city, including Cantonment Plaza on premium two to four decades back.  They added with the recent increase, the shopkeepers who were paying Rs1,000 every month had been asked to pay Rs19,000 per month.



According to the shopkeepers, the notices sent to them by the Cantonment authorities regarding revised rents show that they have fixed the rent at Rs100 per square feet for a shop while the previous rate was Rs2 to 3 only.

Protesters said Cantonment Board Abbottabad did not sign new rent deeds with the tenants but had instead issued notices for the recovery of outstanding rent. They said the spike in rent was unjust, unlawful and tantamount to depriving 400 families and hundreds of other indirect beneficiaries of their rights.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 19^th, 2016.