RAWALPINDI: Traders at Raja Bazaar and nearby commercial centres have complained about the sit-in organised by the Jamaat-i-Islami at Liaquat Bagh, saying the protest and subsequent road blockades have compounded their financial crisis.

As the JI protest entered its third day on Sunday, the roads leading towards the protest site remained blocked with containers, forcing the commuters to take longer routes to reach their destinations. Moreover, the JI arranged chairs and carpets for the participants on the main road due to which traffic congestion was witnessed on Murree Road.

From Moti Mehal to Committee Chowk, the police had placed containers and people faced problems reaching Raja Bazaar and other commercial centres in the vicinity. The vehicular traffic was diverted to alternate routes that created a mess on Jamia Masjid Road, Iqbal Road, and the Kashmiri Bazaar Road.

Similarly, the metro service remained suspended due to the sit-in and would be suspended today as well. Due to the sit-in, there were fewer public transport available and taxi drivers also avoided the route for the same reason. Speaking about the restrictions on movement in the wake of the protest, a shopkeeper at Moti Bazaar said the number of visitors had visibly reduced due to the protest.

Traders urge govt to accept anti-inflation demands of protesters; overnight rain forces sit-in participants to seek shelter

“Sunday and Saturday are the two prime days [for shopping] when people throng markets and bazaars, but due to the sit-in, people avoided coming here,” said Muhammad Kashif, who owns a shop in Moti Bazaar.

Muhammad Ashraf, a shopkeeper in Narankari Bazaar, echoed similar concerns, saying the closure of roads discouraged people from coming to the area. “We are already facing a financial crisis and the political gathering has further added to the problem,” he added. He said that the purchasing power of the people had already been reduced due to taxes, urging the government to accept the demands of the political workers so that they could end the sit-in and the masses get some relief from the inflated electricity bills.

Rain on JI sit-in

On the other hand, the participants of the sit-in faced problems at the venue due to the rain, as rainwater accumulated in the park forcing the protesters to spend a sleepless night, looking for shelter. Some managed to get shade under the metro station while some protesters opted for nearby buildings to escape the rain. However, they remained adamant that they would stay put despite the odds. “We arrived here for a purpose and will not leave the site till our demands are met,” said Muhammad Faraz, a participant who arrived from Sargodha to take part in the protest.

Saeed Ahmed from Lahore said that he and his companions found shelter at the metro bus station after the rain started. He played down the situation and said that for the larger interest of the country, these difficulties were rather small.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2024