LAHORE: Traders in Lahore and several parts of the province opened their Eid-related businesses on Tuesday, rejecting the lockdown and offering severe resistance to police.

The police also reportedly took several shopkeepers into custody and later released them.

The government has announced an eight-day lockdown in Punjab to control the spread of coronavirus.

Earlier, when markets were allowed to work on Eidul Fitr, the ensuing days saw a huge spike in Covid-19 cases.

“We’ve decided to start Jail Bharo Tehreek (campaign to offer arrests voluntarily) in Punjab. We have also decided to keep doing our businesses by resisting the anti-business government’s actions,” All Pakistan Anjuman Tajran General Secretary Naeem Mir told Dawn.

Announce Jail Bharo Tehreek

“We are also unanimous on a point that the government is incompetent if its policies are to be viewed. We think the end of the government is in the best interest of Pakistan,” he added.

In Lahore, the police kept on chasing the violators in several markets after shopkeepers opened Eid-related businesses.

Anarkali and several adjoining markets were the main areas where the shopkeepers reportedly offered resistance to the police. As traders opened their shops, the police would force them to close.

“We will not shut our shops even if they arrest us. We believe they (the government) will finally surrender. And if they don’t, let see what happens,” warned a shopkeeper while talking to Dawn.

“We’ve always accepted the government’s orders but not anymore. The government has crushed us really.”

The markets where coronavirus-related lockdown was violated in Lahore included The Mall, Nila Gumbad, Anarkali, Bano Bazaar, Urdu Bazaar, Shahalam Market, Azam Market, Pakistan Cloth Market, main bazaars in Township, Green Town, Rang Mehal, Yateem Khana, Chauburji, Ichhra, Hafeez Centre and Aurega.

“The Eid-related retail businesses, except Hall Road and some markets, remained open. This sent a message that we will not follow the government orders. So it will be better for the government to withdraw the notification,” said Mr Mir.

At a press conference, traders announced opening their businesses. “This government is anti-traders. And if it tried to even touch any shopkeeper, we will break its hand. So all traders should come forward to open shops without any fear as we are standing behind to protect them,” Mr Mir said.

Ashraf Bhatti, an office bearer of the Anjuman Tajran, said since the prime minister was the master of U-turn, why he did not take a positive U-turn of withdrawing the notification of lockdown.

The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) also supported traders’ stance and urged the government to take serious notice of the miseries of business people and withdraw the lockdown.

“Reservations of the business community are right and should be addressed immediately by the government, as the closure of businesses/markets before Eidul Azha will give a big blow to the traders who are struggling hard to get back on their feet,” said LCCI President Irfan Iqbal Sheikh in a press release on Tuesday.

He said the business community had paid a heavy cost during the prolonged lockdown. Despite the biggest financial loss, businessmen cooperated with the government to stop the spread of coronavirus. He said due to untiring efforts of the government, sacrifices of paramedic staff and unprecedented cooperation of the business community, the situation of coronavirus was well under control.

“Therefore, there is no need for closure of businesses before Eid. So allowing 24 hours businesses till Eidul Azha will be a wise decision as it will help people to do shopping at suitable timings and no rush in the markets would be witnessed,” he added.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2020