0
FAISALABAD, Oct 15: A majority of commercial centres remained closed across the Punjab on Monday as activists of religious parties and other organizations took to streets to condemn the US attack on Afghanistan.
In Faisalabad, all shopping centres remained closed.
Religious parties and traders took out rallies in the city and nearby towns of Samundri, Tandlianwala, Jaranwala and Chak Jhumra.
District Bar Association member marched through various city roads.
All the processions converged at the Clock Tower Intersection where a big rally was held.
Carrying banners and placards inscribed with anti-US slogans, the protesters chanted slogans against the Musharraf government for providing logistics support to the US and its allies.
The rally was addressed by district JI amir Sardar Zafar Hussain, All Pakistan Anjuman Tajiran chairman Mian Abdul Mannan, DBA president Sagheer Ahmed, City Traders Alliance president Sheikh Taj Mehmood, and leaders of SSP, JUI, Lashkar-i-Tayyaba, Jaish-i-Muhammad and some local NGOs.
Meanwhile, the local police and administration beefed up security across the district and deputed heavy police contingents at all sensitive points.
MULTAN: The business community observed a complete strike in the city.
All the main city markets in Husain Agahi, Chowk Bazaar, Kaley Mandi, Andhi Khoee, Sarfraz Bazaar, Circular Road, Timber Market, Gulgasht, Harram Gate, Boharr Gate, Abdali Road and Cantonment remained closed throughout the day.
Only a few shops were seen opened. Most of the outlets opened were either medical stores or eateries.
Around 1,000 activists of various religious and political organizations, including Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan’s PDA, took out a protest rally from Chowk Bazaar that ended at the Ghanta Ghar Chowk.
Participants of the rally condemned the US-led coalition forces for killing innocent people in Afghanistan.
No untoward incident was reported from any part of the city.
GUJRANWALA: The city wore a deserted look as all markets and bazaars remained closed throughout the day. Some hotels, restaurants, tea stalls and medical stores remained opened.
All religious parties and people from various walks of life brought out a big rally from Sheranwala Bagh on the GT Road that culminated at the Gondlanwala Chowk.
The Gujranwala District Bar Association boycotted courts and staged a procession against the killing of innocent Afghan people by the US-led coalition. Bar president Naveed Anwer Naveed led the procession.
According to reports reaching here, complete strikes were also observed in Ghakkhar town, Wazirabad, Dhaunkhel, Rahwali, Kamoke, Eminabad, Qila Dedar Singh and Alipur Chattha.
SIALKOT: A partial strike was observed in both Sialkot and Narowal districts.
A complete shutdown was witnessed before protest rallies in Sialkot city, Cantonment, Daska, Bhopalwal, Sambrial, Ugoki, Pasrur, Chawinda, Badiana, Shakargarh, Zafarwal, Baddomalhi and Narowal. After the protest processions, almost all shops and markets reopened.
Main protest rallies were taken out in Sialkot and Daska in which thousands of people from all walks of life expressed their solidarity with the Afghan people.
The Sialkot District Bar Association also took out a protest procession. Lawyers, holding placards, chanted anti-US slogans and burnt the effigy of president Bush.
However, no untoward incident was reported.
BAHAWALPUR: A complete strike was observed and a rally was brought out in the city.
All bazaars, shopping centres, including the medical stores and bakeries, remained shut to express sympathy with the Afghan people.
All component parties of the Pakistan and Afghanistan Defence Council organized a rally which was brought out from Jamia Masjid Al-Sadiq and terminated at Farid Gate. The protesters, holding placards, shouted slogans against America and Britain.
SARGODHA: A complete strike was observed throughout the Sargodha district.
All the main commercial centres and bazaars remained closed to register protest against the American invasion.
Various religious organizations, including Jamaat-i-Islami, Jamiat Ahle Hadith, Majlis Khatm-i-Nabuwat and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, brought out a rally.
The shutter-down in Mianwali, Bhakkar and Khushab districts was also total.
JHANG: All markets remained closed. Earlier in the day most of the shops remained opened till 10am as this correspondent went round the city markets. But, later, groups of youngsters riding motorcycles, armed with hockey sticks, iron rods and sticks, started beating up the shopkeepers and pelting stones on their shops, forcing them to put the shutters down and run for the safety.
The whole city gave a deserted look afterwards.
SHEIKHUPURA: All business concerns remained shut in the wake of strikes against the US aggression.
Some medical stores were seen opened near DHQ hospitals. Heavy police contingents were deployed at important buildings to prevent any untoward incident.
At an emergent meeting, leaders of JI, SSP and local traders called upon the Muslim ummat to unite against the forces of evil. They termed the US-led air strikes on Afghanistan an act of terrorism.
OKARA: There was a complete strike.
Protesting people blocked the track as a result of which Karachi-bound Khyber Mail was to be halted on the outer signal at the city railway station.
They also burnt flags and effigy of the US president.
KASUR: There was a partial strike in Kasur and Chunian.
All main markets, bazaars and shopping centres remained closed. The Jamaat-i-Islami took out a protest procession in Chunian. In Pattoki, the strike was partial.
VEHARI: A partial strike was observed in Vehari, Mailsi, Burewala and Hasilpur.
Various religious parties organized protest meetings where speakers condemned the attack on Afghanistan and expressed solidarity with innocent Afghan people.
TOBA TEK SINGH: Complete strike was observed here and at Gojra and Kamalia.
SAHIWAL: Partial strike was observed and protest processions were taken out in the city and suburbs.
RAHIM YAR KHAN: All markets and shops remained closed in the city throughout the day.
A peaceful rally was staged in Sadiq Bazaar which was addressed by Pakistan and Afghanistan Defence Council communication secretary Dr Anwarul Haq.
He stressed upon the government to change its policy towards Afghanistan and show solidarity with the Afghan people.
DG KHAN: Main bazaars remained closed. JUI workers took out a procession which culminated at the Traffic Chowk.
