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LAHORE, March 2: Traders in the provincial metropolis will observe complete strike on Friday (today) to join the worldwide protest of the Muslim Ummah against the publication of blasphemous cartoons in European press.
Anjuman Tajran-i-Pakistan President Haji Maqsood Butt said the local traders had unanimously decided to join the nationwide strike of the business community to record their protest against the sacrilege. The strike would, however, be peaceful as the traders would not join any protest meeting or demonstration or resort to violence because they were not the tools of any political party.
He made it clear that the traders were observing strike over the issue for the last time because the protests had taken a political turn. It would be better for the political parties to desist from giving call for another strike as it would be rejected.
Qaumi Tajir Ittehad President Khwaja Azhar Gulshan said the traders had decided to close down the markets to express resentment against the publication of blasphemous cartoons but the opposition was wrongly trying to give an impression that it was a part of its politics for a change of the government.
He said the QTI was of the view that there was no justification for giving a political colouring to the cartoon issue, as the government was handling it amicably. President Gen Pervez Musharraf had called back the staff from the Pakistan Embassy in Denmark and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had stated that the Danish products would be boycotted.
He said the QTI was a non-political organisation and had decided to observe strike for purely religious reasons. It had nothing to do with the opposition’s politics of violence. There was absolutely no justification for causing damage to the private and public property.
Answering a question about the strike at a press conference at the Jinnah Hall, City District Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood said the traders had decided to observe the strike at the meetings of their organisations to show their devotion to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). The city district government would cooperate with them to ensure peace during the strike.
He said the traders were observing the strike to condemn the publication of blasphemous cartoons but there were political motives behind it as well. The CDGL would, however, not allow protests and demonstrations during the strike in view of the bitter experiences of the Feb 14 strike. He said the CDGL had allowed protest meetings at the Minar-i-Pakistan but processions and demonstrations would not be allowed on the Shahrah-i-Quaid-i-Azam as it was against the interest of the traders doing business there.
FLOUR MILLS: All flour mills in the country will remain closed today.
Pakistan Flour Mills Association chairman Mumtaz Ali Sheikh and provincial chief Haji Muhammad Ibrahim said the decision to close the mills had been taken to express solidarity with the Muslim Ummah in its condemnation of the cartoons.
MMA CALL: The MMA appealed to transport workers and owners not to ply their buses and wagons as a mark of their love for the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).
The alliance has denounced “threatening” statements of police authorities, warning them to avoid from politicking and becoming a party to the issue.
Several rallies will be taken out in the city outside various mosques and the press club to protest against the cartoons as well as the US president’s visit.
Veteran politician Mairaj Muhammad Khan has meanwhile supported the countrywide strike call by the joint opposition against sacrilegious images.
In a statement on Thursday, he appealed to the masses to make the call a success with a view to giving the message that Muslims would not tolerate blasphemous acts in any form or manifestation.
As regards the visit of US president Bush, he said the government was obliged to receive him owing to the compulsion of state relations.
PBC: Supporting the strike call, the Pakistan Bar Council has appealed the lawyers community across the country to join the protest with active participation.
