HYDERABAD, Nov 4: People on Sunday were upset about the continued suspension of transmission of several private TV channels which went off air on Saturday evening after the state of emergency was imposed in the country by Gen Pervez Musharraf.

The government offices were closed but all business establishments and markets remained open.

However, according to traders, business was poor in markets during the morning and afternoon hours which was unlike on other Sundays.

“We didn’t have buyers but situation changed when people start arriving at the shops in evening,” said Ayaz, who runs a bookstore in main city.

He said that people are more concerned about their livelihood than emergency.

“People are less interested whether there is Benazir Bhutto or Nawaz in power or emergency what they need is protection to their businesses and jobs,” he remarked.

Traffic was thin on the main roads but by the evening there was rush of vehicles. Heavy police deployment was observed near sensitive installations and other government buildings.

Police also staged a flag march as part of security measures under directives of high-ups.

“It seems that because of emergency people preferred to remain at home. ‘‘It is a season of marriages and Dewali but throughout the day we didn’t receive potential buyers at our shop,” said a cloth merchant. “Lets us hope that emergency leads to control over price-hike,” he observed.

However, rush of people was seen at newspaper stalls and people had to wait for considerable time to buy newspapers because most of the dailies arrived late.

“I don’t understand what is happening in the country. But I do pray that nothing should go against integrity and solidarity of the country,” said another shopkeeper, Mohammad Javed.