Markets reopen, chaos follows

Following Iran–United States ceasefire talks, roads, business centres and markets that had been closed for security reasons were reopened. With commercial activity resuming and normal civic life restored, residents of the twin cities breathed a sigh of relief.

However, after the departure of the delegations on Sunday evening, a serious lack of coordination between the district administration and the police was observed regarding the reopening of businesses.

Traders reopened markets on the administration's signal, but police suddenly arrived and forced them to shut again. There were also reports of mistreatment of traders at several locations.

Trader leaders strongly protested and demanded that the Commissioner and the Rawalpindi District Police Officer (DPO) take notice. Owing to the absence of clear directives, markets in Saddar remained closed, while other commercial centres in the city opened partially but were shut again due to the 8pm restriction.

According to details, after the departure of key delegations on Sunday, the district administration permitted traders to reopen businesses at around 5pm. As soon as shops and markets began to reopen, police intervened and compelled traders to close them again. Traders staged protests against the alleged misconduct

Zafar Qadri, Secretary General of Anjuman Tajiran Cantt, said that traders had kept businesses completely closed for four days in the national interest and had fully cooperated with the administration and police. He said that the traders' association had been instructed by the administration on Sunday evening to reopen businesses, but when they did so, police claimed they had not yet received any notification and forced closures, allegedly behaving improperly.

He strongly condemned the police conduct and called upon Rawalpindi CPO Khalid Hamdani to take notice.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Waheed, President of Anjuman Tajiran Liaquat Road, expressed regret that the Rawalpindi district administration, paramilitary forces and police had displayed irresponsibility, depriving traders of business even on Sunday.

He noted that all trader organisations in Rawalpindi had voluntarily kept businesses closed from Thursday evening to Saturday in the broader national interest, even without formal notification, while commercial activities continued uninterrupted in Islamabad.

Waheed added that despite permission to reopen following the conclusion of talks, police and paramilitary personnel forcibly shut shops again.

Trader organisations across Rawalpindi strongly condemned what they described as humiliating treatment and erratic decisions regarding opening and closing markets.

He further said traders had accepted closures in good faith for the country's sake, but the administration, paramilitary forces and police remained confused and failed to provide any responsible response.

Earlier in the day, despite the conclusion of Iran-US peace talks, the garrison city remained completely sealed for most of the fourth consecutive day. Weekly Sunday bazaars inside the city were also closed.

All markets, including jewellery, electronics, auto shops, hotels, restaurants, marquees and grocery stores, remained shut. When the city partially reopened after the talks ended, police once again enforced a complete shutdown.

Announcements via megaphones warned that any open shop would face electricity disconnection, FIRs and heavy fines. As a result, commercial activity remained paralysed, affecting daily wage earners who were forced to borrow money or beg for food.

Wholesale markets in Saddar and major food outlets remained closed. Due to the four-day closure, citizens had to travel to suburban areas to purchase vegetables, flour and sugar. Transporters and residents also obtained fuel from nearby localities.

Wedding halls and marquees remained closed, leading to cancellation of Sunday events. Areas around Chaklala and Nur Khan Airbase were sealed, with a curfew-like situation prevailing. Residents of Khanna Road, Shakrial, Gangal, Islamabad Expressway, Shah Khalid Colony and surrounding areas remained confined to their homes, with restrictions on movement, rooftop access and even keeping doors and windows open.