Court for resolving market closure issue near stadium

Petitioner says food market, hotels and shops on Double Road closed for over a week

RAWALPINDI:

The Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench has directed the petitioner to sit with the city administration to find a solution to the closure of markets and shops around the Rawalpindi Stadium.

Ahmed Nadeem Arshad had filed a petition against the forced closure of food markets around the stadium by the administration due to cricket matches between Pakistan and Australia. Markets, shops, hotels and petrol stations on Double Road have been closed due to the ongoing matches.

The court directed the district administration to resolve the issue by mutual consultation and submit a report on March 10.

Petitioner’s counsel Sajjad Akbar Abbasi was of the view that the food market had been completely closed for the last one week due to the cricket matches.

He said all nearby markets and shops including Double Road Bazaar have been closed in the name of security.

“Whenever there is a match in the cricket stadium, the entire area is closed in the name of security as a result of which the entire area and the food market is closed. Double Road, the busiest road in Rawalpindi, is also closed for traffic, paralysing routine life.

Assistant Advocate General Punjab was of the view that the Australian team has come to Pakistan after 24 years. Security arrangements have been made in this regard to ensure their security which was necessary.

He added that if the petitioner has any alternative viable suggestion in this regard, “he should share with us and we will act on it. The government has no intention to harm any business”.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2022.