July 04, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-us-Sani 29, 1429

FAISALABAD, July 3: Most shopkeepers in the city district observed a shutter-down strike on Thursday to press the authorities for registration of a case against the Ahmedi students who had been rusticated from the Punjab Medical College.

The strike call was given by the Anjuman-i-Tajran city and clerics of different sects. All the main markets, including Clock Tower bazaars, remained closed the whole day through.

Anjuman president Shahid Razzaq Sakka and secretary-general Mahmood Alam said they were observing strike as a last resort as the local administration and police had failed to register a case against the Ahmedi students found guilty of “preaching their faith and removing the posters of rival sects”.

The successful strike in the district, they said, indicated that people wanted action against the Ahmedi students.

Sources said Senior Minister Raja Riaz, the DCO and the DIG police did not appear for negotiations with the traders, though they had fixed a meeting with them at 11am at the Jamia Masjid.

They said officials on Wednesday night tried their level best to convince the traders of cancellation of the strike call, but the latter remained adamant.

During the course of speeches, many traders and clerics of different sects demanded a case against the Ahmedi students under sections 295 and 298 of PPC. They passed a resolution through which they stressed that “all those non-Muslims enjoying high ranks in any department must be removed immediately”.

A traders’ action committee meeting has been convened for Sunday to plan a future strategy.