Business community agrees to delay strike call

Say they will observe strike on November 30, if govt fails to address issues.

KARACHI: Following long deliberations at the Governor House, the business community agreed to delay their strike call for a 20 days on Sunday. Earlier, the strike call for November 10 was given against extortion and persistent death threats to the business community by criminals.  “Governor Dr Istratul Ebad Khan sought more time to resolve our grievances. Our decision to delay the call is now linked to better performance of police and law enforcement agencies. If government fails to resolve our problems, we will go to observe strike on November 30,” Siraj Qasim Teli, a businessman community leader who was part of the negotiating team.

The office bearers of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tajir Ittehad and all association of industrial estates and traders held three separate meetings between October 27 and 28. During the meeting, the government decided to accept the demands presented by business community, which included providing armed licences. The governor directed the home department to issue arm licences to businessmen for their protection. Meanwhile, the leaders of the business community were assured that the government will introduce community policing along with deployment of 500 police and Rangers personnel in old city areas. Besides, police and Rangers had been directed to enhance the patrolling in sensitive areas of the city.

The meeting also decided to establish mobile phone locators with the help of police, Citizen-Police Liaison Committee and intelligence agencies to trace the numbers from where threats were received. Apart from this, the government assured them to activate the rescue and emergency cell 999 at the commissioner house, Karachi. The emergency cell will operate 24-hours coordinating with the chief minister and governor houses. “The police and law enforcement agencies will take prompt action after receiving complaints,” the handout issued by the governor house said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2012.