FAISALABAD: A partial strike was observed in the eight bazaars of Clock Tower on Tuesday. The cloth markets, however, remained closed.

The Anjuman-i-Tajran local chapter gave a strike call on Monday against the high rates of electricity, issuance of notices by the FBR and alleged torture of traders who too to the street in Islamabad.

During a round of the markets it was observed that most shops remained open in Jhang, Bhawan, Aminpur, Chiniot and Kutchery bazaars. However, shops in Rail Bazaar and Karkhana and Montgomery markets remained closed the whole day.

Traders kept their shutters down till 12pm at many places. The shops around the Clock Tower intersection remained open, though the office of AT is just a few meters away from the intersection.

Yarn market observed a shutter-down strike on the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday against the imposition of taxes and alleged torture of the traders who staged a protest demonstration in Islamabad a couple of days ago.

Markets of Sattiana and Circular roads also remained opened whereas traders of Railway Road and Grain Market observed strike.

Traders said shopkeepers of all the markets would be mobilised to join hands with the them so that the government could be pressed for the acceptance of their demands.

Teachers protest: Teachers and students of the Government Post-Graduate College of Science, Samanabad, held a demonstration on Tuesday outside the college premises against the transfer of two teachers on ‘political grounds’.

Nasir Jappa, president of the Punjab Professors and Lecturers Association, Faisalabad chapter, said political interference in educational institutions during the current regime was never seen before.

Associate professor Shahid Mehmood and lecturer Hashim Farooq have been asked to report to the Higher Education Department.

The protesting teachers said they would continue their protest till the withdrawal of the transfer orders. They said both the teachers were not given any hearing before ordering their transfer.

The college principal and director colleges of Faisalabad region did not respond to text messages made by Dawn to seek their side of the story.

Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2019