LAHORE: The All Pakistan Anjuman-i-Tajiran (APAT) has invited all trader wings, especially those representing businesses on The Mall, to devise a security plan to avert Faisalabad-like situation in Lahore on Dec 15.

“We can’t keep our businesses open when bullets and sticks are being used without any check and hindrance, APAT central secretary-general Naeem Mir said in a letter sent to almost all the trade bodies of Lahore, inviting them to hold a meeting on Dec 14 to devise a strategy for their own safety.

He suggested all the trader bodies should announce holding a protest against the government and opposition’s negative behaviour by shutting down their shops on Dec 15 to show that traders were united.

“The opposition and the government may resolve the political issues on their own but if the traders are involved in it, things will change altogether. In case of any casuality, destruction or damage to any shop, the political parties will merely condemn. It will be the traders who would bear any loss,” Mr Mir said.

The letter has been sent to Khalid Parvez and Ashraf Bhatti, presidents of their own factions of APAT, Sheikh Mushtaq (president Qaumi Tajar Ittehad Group), Muhammad Ali Mian (president PML-N traders wing), Shahzad (president, Businessman Group), Khalid Usman (president Business Forum Lahore), Raja Hassan Akhtar (chairman Azad Group Lahore), Ijaz A Mumtaz (Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry president), Suhail Mahmood Butt (president Mall Road, Raja Hamid group), Sheikh Inam Illahi (president Mall Road Inam Group) and Tahir Javed Malik (chairman Piaf).

Meanwhile, traders have urged both the government and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) to show restraint and hold negotiations immediately to resolve the issues.

Expressing concern over the clashes between PTI and PML-N workers in Faisalabad, which led to loss of precious lives and injuries to scores of others, Khalid Usman and Ejaz Tanveer of the Progressive Group of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) regretted that both the parties were not showing any sign of retreat which might cause a heavy loss to the national economy.

“Trade and business have already suffered a huge loss because of politics of sit-ins and agitation and it should come to an end now. It is continuously denying the inflow of foreign investment in the country and those who are looking towards Pakistan for investment have started exploring opportunities in other countries of the region.

“Political stability is a prerequisite for economic development. All the political parties should show maturity and try to resolve issues through talks,” they said while urging both the opposition and the government to adopt an agenda of national consensus which could help pave the way for building of mega water reservoirs in the country, establishing cheaper electricity projects and putting the country on path of development.

They said the government should immediately come to negotiation table if they were not involved in any electoral rigging and should not delay establishment of judicial commission.

Published in Dawn December 9th , 2014