Shutdown call fails to close businesses

PESHAWAR: Businesses across the provincial capital were largely unaffected during the shutter-down strike as markets were bustling with activity on Wednesday, The Express Tribune learnt.

Although businessmen and traders had been urged to close their shops and businesses by members of the tripartite alliance, many resumed their daily activities in various parts of the city.

In Bilour Plaza, over 200 mobile and electronics shops remained open for the entire day. Alliance members took to loudspeakers on Saddar Road and ordered shop owners to close down.

A large number of shopkeepers and businessmen only pulled down their shutters when the rallies passed through their area.

Putting up resistance

Clashes between shopkeepers and protesters were witnessed in some parts of the city as angry demonstrators urged the former to suspend business activity. Some protesters also entered markets and forced traders to padlock their shops.

Junaid Dada, a mechanic at Shoba Bazaar, said he would not close his shop. “I had an argument with one of the protesters and told him I will not pull down the shutter,” said Dada. “Our businesses have already been affected by the scourge of militancy in the province. We cannot risk closing our shops and businesses for an entire day,” said Shahnawaz Khan, a trader.

Just a routine matter

Farman Ali, a shopkeeper at Falak Ser Plaza in Saddar, told The Express Tribune many traders had been advised not to close down their businesses. A series of announcements were made in Takhto Jumat in the same locality urging traders to call it a day. “However, no one paid attention to these announcements,” Ali added. Nonetheless, various markets across the city remained open, including shops and businesses on Arbab Road and Falak Ser.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2015.