June 26, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-us-Sani 21, 1429

LAHORE, June 25: The Qaumi Tajar Ittehad has welcomed the postponement of by-elections to National Assembly constituency NA-123, Lahore, by the Supreme Court, but decided to stick to its plan to observe a three-day strike in the provincial metropolis from Friday (tomorrow) against disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to contest elections by the Lahore High

Court.

Announcing the decision at a news conference at the Lahore Press Club on Wednesday, Qaumi Tajar Ittehad Pakistan President Azhar Saeed and other office-bearers said the business community would review its decision to observe the strike only in case the SC allowed Nawaz to contest the by-election by Friday. It would convert the strike into thanksgiving in that case.

They said the business community respected the mandate of the democratic government and wanted it to tide over the economic crisis resulting in unprecedented inflation and devaluation of the currency. The integrity and solidarity of the country was at stake owing to deepening of economic crisis, but the elements, which decided to execute former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, were now conspiring against Nawaz Sharif.