ISLAMABAD: Panic spread in Aabpara’s weekly bazaar following announcements made on loudspeakers on Sunday that the bazaar will be closed before sunset due to security threats.

The sudden change of plan was distressing for both sellers and bargain hunters who come late to the weekly bazaar to buy fruit and vegetable at low prices.

“As soon as I got here I heard announcements being made, asking buyers to leave immediately and sellers to close stalls because there are security threats,” said Muhammad Ikram, a visitor to the bazaar.

The sudden change of plan also left the sellers disappointed.

“This is not fair, either it should have been announced earlier or we should have been given time to adjust to the new schedule,” said Muhammad Naeem, a fruit seller.

Naeem criticised the Capital Development Authority (CDA) for being uncooperative. “There is no such rule at other weekly bazaars in the city,” he said.

However, a CDA official said there was a threat to the law and order situation as some religious groups were protesting near Aabpara Sunday bazaar.

“There were many protests around the bazaar and Lal Masjid which has been under the spotlight lately, is our next door neighbour. So we decided to close the bazaar at its official time,” the official said.

The official timings of the bazaars organised by the CDA are from sunrise to sunset, however these timings have never been strictly imposed and sellers continue to do business after sunset.

“We did force bazaars to close at sunset several years back when there were security threats,” said an official of the Bazaars Directorate.

“Even now if we start closing bazaars at sunset, it will only be temporary.”

Published in Dawn December 22th , 2014