Nanbais resume strike after raids, arrests

Tandoors reopen, then shut again as authorities launch crackdown

RAWALPINDI:

After suspending their four-day strike, nanbais across Rawalpindi reopened tandoors on Sunday, bringing relief to citizens.

However, the respite was short-lived as authorities launched raids and arrests later in the day, forcing the bakers to resume their strike.

On Sunday morning, all tandoors in the district reopened, and nanbais unilaterally raised prices of roti, naan, paratha, kulcha, and roghni naan.

The reopening brought relief to families, students, and employees who had been struggling without breakfast during the strike.

Associated eateries, tea stalls, and roadside vendors also resumed operations.

However, around 3pm, the Punjab Enforcement Regulatory Authority (PERA) and price magistrates, on the orders of the Deputy Commissioner, declared the strike illegal and began raids on tandoors, arresting several nanbais.

The crackdown led to the closure of 13 tandoors and registration of cases against 34 bakers, including central president Shafiq Qureshi's sons Hamza and Bilal Qureshi, senior vice president Sardar Safeer, vice president Jahanzeb Abbasi, and other leaders.

The association displayed new price lists, increasing the rate of brown flour roti from Rs14 to Rs15, white roti from Rs25 to Rs30, naan from Rs30 to Rs35, and paratha and roghni naan from Rs50 to Rs60. Tea stalls followed suit, raising tea prices to Rs100 per cup.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Nanbai Association President Shafiq Qureshi said the strike had been extended from three to four days but postponed for the next week.

He announced that all 43 district associations would hold a joint meeting next Thursday and Friday to finalise demands for both federal and provincial governments.

He said the cost of flour and other essentials had more than doubled over the last two years, leaving bakers unable to sell roti at Rs14. "If the government provides subsidised flour, we can sell roti at a reduced price. But buying expensive flour and selling cheap roti means starving our own families," he said.

Qureshi demanded the immediate release of arrested nanbais and warned of an indefinite province-wide strike if their demands were not met. "We will now expand our strike to Punjab and Islamabad," he added.