Sit-ins: Business takes a deep hit

Traders say losses due to business closures run into millions.

ISLAMABAD: A virtual lockdown of some of the capital;s markets for over two weeks due to the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) has crippled business in the city.

Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ICCI) President Shaban Khalid said the marches and the sit-ins have resulted in losses worth millions, adding that the protests are taking their toll on the national economy.

Expressing concern over the current political situation, the ICCI president said PTI and PAT are on one side and the whole country on the other.

He said many businesses in the city have been closed for more than two weeks now.

Aabpara Market Traders Welfare Association President Ajmal Baloch told APP
that business activities, especially in Aabpara Market, have come to a complete halt, due to the marches and sit-ins. “For the last two weeks, our shops have been shut due to the protests,” Baloch said.

He said that the Aabpara Market was most affected due to the marches and claimed traders had suffered losses worth Rs0.5 billion. “Traders suffer the most when political parties take the city hostage,” Baloch said.

President Anjuman-i-Tajran G/9 Markaz Raj Muhammad appealed to district administration to allot a separate space for protests in the future and not allow such activities in Aabpara and other business centres.

“There was no reason for PTI Chairman Imran Khan and PAT chief Tahirul Qadri to hold marches and sit-ins as their demand for the resignation of an elected prime minister is not only unjustified but also unconstitutional,” he added.

He said both PTI and PAT wanted to derail democracy and destabilise the country through their unconstitutional demands.

President Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries Kamran Abbasi said trade and commerce activities in the capital were affected due to marches and held PTI and PAT responsible for this.

He said the Supreme Court has given a clear order to both parties to vacate Constitution Avenue.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2014.