Traders protest Bank Road's closure for traffic

Protest sees temporary halt as representatives agree to call off rally

RAWALPINDI:

Traders on Tuesday observed a complete shutter down in the commercial area in Saddar against inadequate parking and the conversion of Bank Road into a walking street. They demanded the opening of Bank Road for traffic.

A complete shutter-down strike was observed on Bank Road, Kashmir Road, Adamji Road and Hyder Road.

During the protest, the business representatives announced that their demand had been accepted so their protest rally would not go to the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) office.

The RCB spokesperson, however, said that the demands were not accepted and that Bank Road would not be opened.

On the call of Anjuman Tajran Cantt, Bank Road, Kashmir Road, Adamji Road and Hyder Road were completely shut at 2pm. Trade leaders Sheikh Hafeez, Zafar Qadri, Munir Baig Mirza, Munir Mughal, Mushtaq Khan and others led the protest on Kashmir Road-Bank Road Chowk.

Some speakers vowed not to give property tax to the RCB due to the non-acceptance of their demands. However, before implementing the announcement to go to the RCB along with the protest rally, additional Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Haider Shuja met with the business representatives at a major business centre.

After the meeting, Anjuman Tajran Cantt president Sheikh Hafeez and General Secretary Zafar Qadri announced that their demands, including the opening of Bank Road, had been accepted.

"The acceptance of demands will be announced within two days, so we end the protest peacefully. Now, the rally will culminate in front of Mall Plaza," Hafeez said, adding all shopkeepers should reach their respective business centres and open their shops. The RCB's spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Rashid Saqib said that the traders' demand to open Bank Road was not accepted, however, parking problems would be resolved.