January 06, 2007	Saturday	Zilhaj 15, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 5: Traders Action Committee (TAC) has decided to step up campaign against the government move to auction seven shops in the Aabpara market, which are in possession of the tenants for the last 37 years.

After separation, the evacuee property of the officials of East Pakistan was taken over by cabinet division, which has auctioned most of the properties in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

Addressing a protest rally after Friday prayer Organizing Secretary of TAC, Ajmal Baloch alleged that some bureaucrats in the cabinet division are bent upon auctioning these commercial properties jeopardising the livelihood of the people associated with these shops.

He said that the President of Pakistan Muslim League Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has failed to resolve the issue. He requested the prime minister to intervene and resolve the issue.

Protesters were carrying placards inscribed with slogans against the Cabinet Division’s secretary and other bureaucrats for their alleged involvement in auction of seven shops.

Secretary Information of TAC Khalid Mohammd Chaudhry told this correspondent that the first auction date was fixed at December 6, 2006. But he said that at the interference of the PML president the auction was postponed.

Mr Chaudhry said that the next date has not been fixed for the auction but the cabinet division officials said that it would soon be communicated.