Mourning: City closed down over Taseer’s assassination

Government offices, courts, educational institutes and markets in the Lahore remained closed on Wednesday.

LAHORE: Government offices, courts, educational institutes and markets in the city remained closed on Wednesday on account of a public holiday declared by the government to mourn the death Governor Salmaan Taseer.

However, following a circular issued by the State Bank of Pakistan on Tuesday announcing a working day, all public and private banks remained open for business. The markets at Circular Road, Shah Alam Market, Anarkali, Hall Road, The Mall, Neela Gumbad, Gulberg and Ferozepur Road also remained closed. The city roads had little traffic until after the governor’s funeral.

However, the city seemed to gradually resume movement as traffic flow increased gradually and some of the markets reopened.

Many restaurants around the city also reopened in the evening. Activities at Lakshmi Chowk, Anarkali, Walled City, Gowalmandi and MM Alam Road also resumed business after Zuhr prayers.

Calm prevailed and there were no major protests in any part of the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2011.