Muhammad Afrahim, a resident of Islamabad, says he wishes rallies like the Azadi march and Inqilab march would take place more often in the city. “The marches have been a blessing for workers like me,” he says, overjoyed. “I’ve earned nearly Rs2,500 since this afternoon alone from selling mixed fruits to the party workers. Before this, I would hope to make just Rs300 to Rs600 on an average day.”
As the rain poured down on Friday and Saturday, those in the capital crying out for ‘azadi’ and ‘inqilab’ wanted one thing: hot tea. “I was sold out,” says one man who set up a makeshift tea stall, who asked to remain anonymous. “I sold roughly 500 cups of tea in less than three hours on Saturday.”
Afrahim’s nephew Ibrahim has also done well for himself – his channa chaat kiosk, set up in Aabpara Market, has made Rs15,000 since August 14. Ibrahim says he has sold six times more in these days than he normally would. Ibrahim says he was compelled to hike his prices per plate of chaat as the cost of his ingredients has soared due to a shortage of food supplies caused by the barricades around the city. “The price of potatoes and tomatoes has jumped from Rs70 to Rs200 and Rs80 to Rs180, respectively,” he said.
Street vendors offering everything from crackers to popcorn and drinks have been busy since Friday and restaurant owners – particularly those offering chicken karhais – haven’t had a moments rest since the marchers entered the city. One man says his barbecue grills have scarcely been turned off over the last few days.
The distribution of free food for those soaked by the rain appears to be the only hitch in these vendors’ fortunes. But even as the Pakistan Awami Tehreek is providing free breakfast, lunch and dinner to its supporters, vendors say they have not been able to keep pace with the demand. “I don’t know if the party workers are being given free meals,” said one biryani vendor. “I just know that I have sold six degs since this evening.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 17th, 2014.
COMMENTS (19)
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@Imran Qadri: His house is in Islamabad. If you had a house you would have done the same. At least he is not hiding behind a Container blocked road leading into Raiwind.
@ S. Malik....rightly so..if you prefer living room politics then you deserve to be sick, unless you at least support the right GULOO, destiny are made by people who strive for it, not by getting sick. Written with all good intention!!!!
@anybodyagree: Imran Khan has made a fool of himself. His march to create anarchy seems to be going nowhere and he is allied to a dubious character like Tahirul Qadri. I had high hopes for Imran Khan but his childish behaviour is his own doing. He could have shown us how be a good opposition leader and challenge the government in parliament, do good work in KPK and hold the government policies to account. By serving as a good opposition leader, people like me would vote for him again but now I see he is not fit to run a country. He will do anything for power - even upset the developing democratic system. There is a lot of work to do to improve Pakistan but trying to push out an elected government after hardly a year only shows childishness. He is encouraging people to do the same thing to him if ever he gets elected which is unlikely now since many including my family reject his politics of unrest. Tahirul Qadri has no platform to stand on since he is not elected at all and he lives abroad.
Pakistan's public needs better leaders than the two faced old regime, Imran khan is more credible then these old parasites who come back time and time again like pigs in a trough, just to fill there pockets and mean while ordinary Pakistani's suffer..
@S Malik:
thanks mate, Im putting this as my status !
Can't resist these Parathas with a hot cup of tea! love love love
@S Malik: good one !!
Do any body thinks That Pakistan is not fit for democracy. Politicians rig elections and are corrupt. Army rules OK for 5 years than they learn and become like Politicians. Only option left call the old masters to run the country. It is better to be slaves than masters and stay in peace, let the masters to run the country.
No you won't unless you get paid to come out by your corrupt leaders..
Haq Hamara Azzadi
In my opinion a true democrat should not be afraid of going back to the people for afresh mandate. The talks should be held as soon as possible between the leaders of the protestors and the government for the ways to hold new elections under such a system where nobody can point finger on its credibility like other true democracies.there could be various options which can be worked out Rubina
“Gullu Butt” vs “Gullu Khan” vs “Allama Gullu”
Gullu Butt ----- Smash Cars
Gullu Khan ------ Smash Courts, Smash Assemblies, Smash Nawaz, Smash Shahbaz
Allama Gullu --- Smash Democracy, Smash System, Smash All who are not followers
We are sick of all these Gullus
PTI has become a joke in Pakistan's political history...how can some 100,00 people demands resignation from PM and CM's of four provinces just by saying that elections were rigged...I voted for PML-N along with thousands other from my area..so why no respect for my vote? are we not Pakistanis?...only insafians are Pakistanis? only if IK becomes PM so it is fair else there is rigging?...what rubbish from PTI....even if IK somehow topples this government we will come on streets with much more people and will topple IK...this what he wants in a democratic country?
Gullu Butt” vs “Gullu Khan” vs “Allama Gullu”
Gullu Butt ----- Smash Cars
Gullu Khan ------ Smash Courts, Smash Assemblies, Smash Nawaz, Smash Shahbaz
Allama Gullu --- Smash Democracy, Smash System, Smash All who are not followers
We are sick of all these Gullus
But intellectually they are being fed rat poison by IK and TuK.
The situation is getting worse and it's really hard to think who is right and who is wrong..!!! Even if PM Nawaz Sharif resigns what's a best procedure to do an election free of rigging and if rigging is even done then who is accountable for KPK? It's like Demo'Crazy' in Pakistan.