‘No’ to protest: Traders reject PTI’s shutdown call

Says such strikes would adversely affect business activities and the country’s economy.

RAWALPINDI:

Traders have rejected Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s call for shutdowns, saying such strikes would adversely affect business activities and the country’s economy. 

Rawalpindi Markazi Anjuman Tajran President Shahid Ghafoor Paracha, traders action committee chief Sharjeel Mir, commercial market traders’ leader Raja Tauheed and Pharmaceutical Traders Association Chairman Arshad Awan issued a joint statement on Monday against the party’s call to ‘shutdown cities and then the entire country’.

They said some political elements were creating anarchy in the country for their vested interest, adding that the politics of long marches, civil disobedience and shutdown would be destructive not only for traders and businessmen but also for the national economy.

“The country has been facing various challenges, including terrorism, extremism and energy crisis. It cannot afford political instability,” the statement read.

They said the leadership of all political parties should join hands for strengthening economy instead of hatching conspiracies against the government for their vested interest. The traders said the sit-in and call for country-wide shutdown by the PTI would also affect law and order, which would ultimately hinder economic growth.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2014.