After a shutter down strike appeal by former chairman of Ruet-e-Hilal Committee Mufti Muneeb-ur-Rehman on Sunday, a complete shutter down strike was observed all over the country on Monday.
In Lahore, the All-Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran observed strike on the call of Mufti Muneeb. All major business centers, including Shah Alam Market, Liberty Market, the Mall, and shopping malls remained closed. A rally was taken out on the Ferozepur Road in the afternoon that caused a traffic mess.
Ferozepur Road also remained close for traffic.
In Karachi, the transport in a major part of the city remained off roads till the mid-day as shops in Saddar, Tower area, Boulden Market kept shutters down.
“Almost all big malls and markets will remain closed today on the appeal of the ulema,” said the All City Traders Union Association and All Karachi Footwear Merchant Association.
Muhammad Hussain, the general secretary of the Transporters and Goods Association, also claimed that their members would also support the strike call.
“This is a difficult announcement in the current business and commercial situation, but we cannot prioritise anything over honour,” said Hammad Poonawala, the president of the All City Traders Union and all its associations.
A trader at Boulden Market said, “We have invested millions of rupees in garments businesses owing the upcoming Eid festival, but it seems that strikes, protests and corona policies of the governments would bring the traders on road.”
Meanwhile, the traders in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad observed a complete shutter down strike. Police were deployed in markets in Rawalpindi and no untoward incident was reported till the filing of this report.
Traders in Gujranwala also kept their businesses closed on the call of clerics.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman condemned the Lahore violence and announced support for Mufti Muneeb’s strike call.
