Arrest orders ignite traders' revolt

Shopkeepers threaten strike after DC orders jail for Ramazan profiteers

RAWALPINDI:

Rawalpindi traders have threatened a strike after the district administration issued orders for the arrest of profiteers.

Deputy Commissioner Hassan Waqar Cheema announced that instead of issuing fines and challans during Ramazan against sellers of essential commodities, food items, vegetables and fruits at inflated prices, shops will be completely sealed and the shopkeeper sent to jail for 72 hours.

The announcement disrupted the District Price Control Committee meeting, as representatives of all trader sectors rejected the decision. A joint protest demonstration across Rawalpindi district has been announced for Monday, February 16.

Leaders of various associations, including Grocery Merchants Association, Markazi Anjuman Tajran President, Nanbai Association, Restaurant Association, along with Dairy Association, Chicken Retailers Association, Grocery Association, Meat Association, Gawala Union, Retail Poultry Union, Bakers Union and Fruit and Vegetable Union, have declared full support for the protest.

They warned that if even a single shop is sealed or a trader arrested, all grocery stores, tandoors, hotels, meat and chicken shops, vegetable and fruit outlets, bakeries, general stores, and samosa, pakora and date shops across the district will shut down in a complete strike.

Following the DC's announcement, a joint grand jirga meeting of all representative trader bodies of Rawalpindi was held under the leadership of Anjuman Tajran Rawalpindi President Malik Shahid Ghafoor Paracha.

Presidents of Restaurant, Dairy, Chicken Retailers, Grocery, Meat, Nanbai and Furniture Associations attended.

The meeting unanimously decided to stage a strong protest against what they termed unfair treatment by the administration, open bribery, unjustified challans under the guise of price checking, arbitrary sealing of shops, oppressive taxes and continued humiliation of traders by various departments.

Participants expressed concern that officials responsible for facilitation and system improvement have begun acting like rulers.

They alleged that officers drawing salaries from taxes collected from traders are pushing them against the wall, causing mental and financial distress.

Traders claimed that the rates decided in the District Price Control Committee meetings do not match the official lists. They alleged that the DC issues unrealistic price lists for essential commodities, including milk, yoghurt, meat, chicken, pulses and rice.

It was decided that on Monday, February 16, all trader organisations would peacefully but firmly protest by blocking Rawalpindi's main artery, Murree Road. The purpose of the protest, they said, is to convey a clear message that the trader community will no longer tolerate injustice and humiliation.

They warned that if the situation does not change, the protest scope will be expanded, holding the administration responsible.