Domino effect? Raiwind shops forced to shutter down

Roadside vendors pleased to cater to rally participants

LAHORE: In violation of the agreed code of conduct, both Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers and the city administration forced shopkeepers to close down their businesses on Raiwind Road.

The Express Tribune observed the authorities started forcing traders to pull down their shutters after the Friday prayers over security reasons.

Police had already closed all the roads and streets leading to Raiwind Road to avoid undue traffic.

A real estate agent alleged that PTI representatives from PP-161 Lahore harassed him and asked him to give his office to lodge the party leaders for the day. The businessman had to later surrender to the demands of the PTI leaders.

A general store owner said police had forced all shopkeepers in his market to shut their businesses to avoid any untoward incident. “We are neither supporting PTI nor are we in favour of the PML-N,” he said. “The local administration is depriving us from our legitimate rights.”

Another man’s pleasure

The street vendors, however, were delighted by the roaring business at Adda Plot. Small traders had set up kiosks and stalls at every nook and corner of the PTI rally venue, selling PTI merchandise like caps, badges, mufflers and t-shirts. Dozens others offered food and beverages.

Grievances

Although most of the vendors were pleased, a few complained about the police officials confiscating their merchandise on the pretext of security hazards.

Police officials, who were seen loading beverage crates onto an official van, said their seniors had asked them to remove all stalls close to the stage. Goods would be returned once the vendors moved to another location, they claimed.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2016.