• Several demonstrations held as markets remain shuttered across Punjab, KP
• Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi ‘closed for business’; partial strike in upper Sindh, Rawalpindi and Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Large parts of the country saw a shutter-down strike and protest rallies on Saturday, on the call of various traders’ bodies as well as the Jamaat-i-Islami, to protest against taxing hikes in electricity bills and petroleum prices, which have hit consumers like a veritable bombshell.

Provincial capitals in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan rema­ined completely shut, whereas Karachi, Rawalpindi and Islamabad saw a partial shutdown.

The country’s largest city witnessed its second consecutive shutdown in as many days, as the city traders had largely kept their daily activities suspended on Friday, in protest against the inflated electricity bills on the call of the business community.

However, Saturday’s strike caused more of a dent in the metropolis – with the fresh call also affecting industrial activities and keeping private transport services off the roads.

Similarly, businesses across Sindh remained largely closed and public transport stayed off roads on a countrywide “shutter-down strike” which was supported by several traders’ bodies and business associations.

In Lahore, almost all major markets remained closed for business throughout the day as the traders’ bodies remained successful in their strike.

Talking to Dawn, All Pakistan Anju­man Tajiran Secretary General Naeem Mir said that since none of the organisations opposed the decision of the shutter-down strike, it remained a success.

In Peshawar’s bazaars, business activities remained suspended where traders held demonstrations and took out processions in various bazaars and localities to protest an increase in taxes. Traders in different districts pulled down shutters of their shops and organised rallies. A shutter-down was also observed in parts of Hazara division.

The lawyers also supported the protest call as they boycotted the court proceedings in protest against inflation. Very thin transports plied on the roads, creating difficulties for the commuters to reach their destinations.

In Quetta, a shutter-down strike was observed in the provincial capital and some other towns and cities of Balochistan against the exorbitant electricity bills. The business community in response to the strike call shut down their businesses. All bazaars, markets, shopping malls and plazas and business centres remained closed throughout the day as Anjuman Tajran also supported the strike.

Main business centres at Liaquat Bazaar, Abdul Sattar Road, Prince Road, Mecongi Road, Sirki Road, Masjid Road, Fatima Jinnah Road, Surajganj Bazaar, Jinnah Road, Archer Road, Circular Road, and other areas remained closed to express solidarity with nationwide protests against price hikes and inflated bills.

A shutter-down strike was also observed in other areas of the province, including Pishin, Zhob, Loralai, Chaman, Khuzdar, Dara Murad Jamali, Sibi, Mastung, Ziarat, Hub, Winder, Bela, Uthal and Khanozai. The local administration had made foolproof security arrangements, deploying heavy contingents of police and other security forces in and around Quetta.

Meanwhile, a shutter-down strike announced by Jamaat-i-Islami garnered a lacklustre response as traders in Rawalpindi and Islamabad opposed such boycotts on a political basis, and instead favoured a united front led by traders’ bodies.

Parts of Sector G-9, Bhara Kahu and I-10 witnessed suspension of business activities, but most of the areas remained open, which could be best described as a “partial” strike.

In Rawalpindi, traders also ignored the shutter-down strike call. Residents remained busy with their routine life and everyday business activities were witnessed in the markets. Though some markets were closed in the morning, they were subsequently opened in the footsteps of other markets and bazaars which opened despite the call for a shutter-down strike.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2023