Boycott: Markets remain shut

LAHORE:

Businesses and markets, big and small, also remained closed on Friday to protest the anti-Islamic film.

Representatives of around 320 market associations had announced on Thursday that there would be no business on Friday. Anjuman-i-Tajiran, Qaumi Tajir Ittehad and trader wings of political parties demanded that the government adopt a “zero tolerance policy” on insult to religion.

“We demand that the American government take action against the culprit within 48 hours. If they fail to do so, the Pakistani government should halt all diplomatic ties with America,” said Khwaja Azhar Gulshan, the Qaumi Tajir Ittehad Punjab Supreme Council chairman.  Gulshan also condemned the people who turned violent during protests and vandalised public property. “They are not Muslims. They are responsible for the negative image that Muslims have,” he said.

All the markets will reopen today (Saturday).

Published in The Express Tribune, September 22^nd, 2012.