“We want change, now or never.” PHOTO: AFP
Jinnah Avenue has become a mini-village overnight, with hawkers and vendors courting the hundreds of thousands of marchers camped there.
The avenue famous for its restaurants, media houses and retail outlets of multinational brands looks totally transformed.
Early in the morning participants settled down at the venue, playing games, discussing the news or gossiping, while others slept or prayed.
“Well, this is one way to pass the time and stay connected with the news,” said Ghulam Mustafa from Lahore, while leafing through a newspaper.
Meanwhile, a vendor passed by selling dry fruit and shouting, “Do not leave empty-handed, stay committed,” coining a pun on the ultimate objective of the sit-in to lure participants.
Two guys were shouting to attract customers, “For only Rs100 charge your cell phone a 100 times.” He told The Express Tribune that he had sold over 150 boxes of travel chargers while surrounded by customers. Many youngsters tried to charge their cell phones with electricity metres outside shops.
Participants were huddled together, discussing the decision of the Supreme Court and the ramifications of the sit-in.
“Now this is heading towards a resolution,” said one middle-aged man to the other while eating chips.
A hawker was seen selling eveningers with banner headlines of Qadri which were eagerly snatched up by participants.
Young men draped in Pakistani flags and wearing bandanas inscribed with slogans were sitting on top of buses. Some of them were striking disposable bottles against the buses and chanting slogans, “We want change, now or never.” Others were swinging sticks and making signs of victory.
The Minhaj-ul-Quran International (MQI) long march in the capital has disturbed business activity in Blue Area, the city’s commercial hub. However, pushcart vendors were in for an unexpected windfall, with corn cobs, burgers, sweets, mineral water, biscuits, tea, pilaf and other food items selling like hot cakes.
“I have spent more than 48 hours in Blue Area. All the participants need something to eat and drink, so we bought from the vendors,” said Ahmed Hameed, a participant in the long march from Lahore.
He said the shops nearby were all closed as a security precaution, leaving no option but to purchase goods on higher rates.
Naureen, another participant, said she had brought some biscuits and sweets to share with her friends but they were not enough, so they purchased mineral water and food items from vendors. She said the vendors were selling bottled mineral water for higher prices but they had no other option.
Moreover, as part of the security measures for the long march, mobile phone users in the capital have also been punished.
“I’m sure mobile phone users must have considered the loss of money they bear due to suspension of cellular service, a practice that has become a norm in Pakistan now,” said Muhammad Shahbaz, referring to daily charges on some prepaid packages and line rent on postpaid ones.
“We all know that the service is suspended to ensure security, but at the same time, the regulator and service providers should keep in mind the monetary loss borne by subscribers,” said a telecom professional when asked about the situation. With additional input from APP
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2013.
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