Shopkeepers’ politics: Aabpara traders body election on 18th

Ajmal Baloch said he would continue efforts for a new rent control law

ISLAMABAD:

Aabpara Traders Welfare Association President Ajmal Baloch seems set to retain his position ahead of the body’s elections on October 18. Baloch will lead the Shaheen Tajir Ittehad at the polls.

Addressing traders on Monday, Baloch said serving the cause of traders was his mission, adding that fake cases had been registered against him for his struggle for the rights of traders. Baloch, who has been jailed a few times, said “the police brutality” will not deter him from his goal.

He said he would continue efforts for a new rent control law which ensures that shopkeepers are not forced out of shops at the whims of owners.

Recently, Baloch and other traders had a scuffle with a court bailiff and policemen who had come with court orders to get a shop in Shaheen Market vacated. The police had registered a case against Baloch for beating up the bailiff.

Traders, however, had decried the police ‘heavy-handedness’ and protested.

Baloch said an amendment to the Rent Control Act has been tabled in the National Assembly and will be debated in the next session.

He said the Capital Development Authority had unilaterally increased the board tax and outsourced its collection, adding that he would also oppose parking fee which CDA wanted to impose in some markets.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 14^th, 2014.