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| September 10, 2005 | Saturday | Sha’aban 5, 1426 |
Strike call draws poor response
ISLAMABAD, Sept 9: The opposition’s call for a countrywide shutter-down and wheel-jam strike drew a poor response in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad on Friday. Majority of the shops in Blue Area, Jinnah Super, Super Market, Aabpara Market and Melody Market remained open, while public transport remained on the road throughout the day. Attendance at colleges, schools and offices also remained as usual.
However, the opposition termed the strike a “good show”. Though in the morning some public transporters had pulled their vehicles off the road, in the evening the public transport came on the road.
Police were on the stand-by to cope with any eventuality, however, no untoward incident was reported from any part of the twin cities.
YAQOOB MALIK FROM ATTOCK ADDS: The wheel-jam and shutter-down strike in Attock turned out to be a poor show, as most of the shops and markets remained open and public transport plied on the roads.
The strike call was given by the combined opposition on September 4 to convey an impression to the government that the people supported their demands for restoration of the constitution, formation of an independent election commission and end to the military’s interference in the national politics.
Sources in the district administration told this reporter that no opposition leader approached the local traders and transporters to convince them to take part in the strike.
Interestingly, in the evening the opposition leaders started contacting the local newsmen, terming the strike successful.
Meanwhile, PPP leader Malik Hakmeen Khan claimed that the people of Attock had responded overwhelmingly to their call for strike. He also claimed that the opposition had reached out to all quarters concerned in the district to ensure a complete wheel-jam.
AMJAD IQBAL FROM TAXILA ADDS: The traders and transporters of Taxila and Wah Cantonment gave a poor response to the united opposition’s call for a nationwide shutter-down and wheel-jam strike on Friday, as several bazaars, shopping centre and markets in the two cities remained open.
The strike call was given by the opposition to the masses to protest against the government’s polices, price hike, unemployment, deteriorating law and order, rigging in the local bodies elections and unconstitutional rule of Gen Pervez Musharraf.
Shops and markets in various localities including Aslam Market, Lala Rukh, Faisal Shaheed Road and Sarai Kala Chowk remained open, while in the interior parts of the city and on the main GT Road many shops were closed due to Friday being a closed day.
JAMAL SHAHID ADDS: The people have rejected the shutter-down and wheel-jam strike called by the opposition because they did not play their cards well, said Pakistan Muslim League secretary information Tariq Azeem here on Friday.
He was speaking at a press briefing called by State Minister for Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Mohammad Ali Durrani here.
“The country suffers a loss of Rs12 billion from one day of strike and the people have realized that such unjustified boycotts put them at the losing end,” Mr Azim said.
He said the opposition leaders had no sense of direction and were destroying the very institution of opposition. Terming the strike unjustified, he said increase in oil prices was a worldwide phenomenon.
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