November 05, 2007	Monday	Shawwal 23, 1428

MUZAFFARABAD, Nov 4: A partial strike was observed for two hours here on Sunday against the government plan to relocate the state capital.

Police sources and witnesses said there was complete shutter down in some areas.

However, pro-government traders disassociated themselves from the strike call in other areas on the grounds that Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan had already revoked a notification that suggests relocation of state-level offices to Chattar Klas, some 20km south of here along Kohala Road.

Some ruling party leaders, including a minister, were seen persuading shopkeepers in several localities to keep their stores open. Witnesses said a procession was taken out in Upper Adda and participants marched through the main bazaar. The procession turned into a big demonstration at Bank Road where leaders delivered fiery speeches against the alleged relocation.

The leader alleged that the relocation of offices was aimed at pillaging the funds meant for reconstruction of the quake-hit areas. They asked the government to implement the Jica-prepared master plan in letter and in spirit. They announced that a representative delegation of lawmakers and prominent leaders from Muzaffarabad and Neelum districts would meet the top military brass in Islamabad to apprise it of the sentiments of the people on the issue.

Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion were ruling Muslim Conference lawmakers Raja Farooq Haider and Ms Noreen Arif, People’s Party MLA Hanif Awan, People’s Muslim League MLA Chaudhry Mohammad Rasheed, former ministers Khawaja Farooq Ahmed, Mufti Mansoor ur Rehman and Sardar Tabarak Ali.

Witnesses said strike and demonstrations were also observed in small towns and villages of Muzaffarabad and Neelum district, such as Garhi Dupatta, Hattian Bala, Chinari, Patikka and Athmuqam.

However, speaking to reporters in the evening, Prime Minster Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan said the strike was a failure as people of Muzaffarabad had rejected the call of vested interests.