ISLAMABAD: Archrivals in the business community have decided to shun their differences and jointly observe a shutter-down strike on Tuesday against the government’s decision to close markets by 8pm.

The leaders of the business community on Monday finalised the arrangements to ensure that the strike remains successful.

“We want to make a successful shutter-down protest but it will be peaceful and within the limits of the law,” said Muzammil Hussain Sabri, the president of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI).

“We have offered to close the markets at 10pm and reduce electricity consumption but the idea of 8pm is unacceptable.”

He said the construction work on the metro bus service and political sit-ins in the capital had disturbed business activities during the last about one year.

Representatives of three groups of traders finalise arrangements for the shutter-down

Besides, people visit the markets after returning from their offices, not during the daytime. “What will happen in Ramazan when people get free from Iftar at around 8pm?”

The three main groups of the business community are the ICCI, the Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry and a group of traders led by Ajmal Baloch.

The representatives of all the three groups attended the meeting on Monday and pledged to make the strike a success.

The federal government on April 8 decided to shut down shops, marriage halls and restaurants in Islamabad at 8pm, 10pm and 11pm respectively to conserve energy.

“All the pressure and the writ of the law seem to be focused on Islamabad, not Rawalpindi, which is just yards away from the capital,” said Ajmal Baloch.

Since the orders were issued, all the assistant commissioners have been directed to visit markets in their jurisdictions and enforce the order. However, the enforcement has been lax.

“This is a difficult task as if the whole administration and police have nothing to do but keep moving in the markets,” said a senior official of the capital administration. “Initially, there were fines and penalties but now shopkeepers have started switching off lights and even posed as if they were winding up. But as soon as the magistrate and the police move on, they are back to business.”

The official said the market visits sometimes became humiliating for the magistrates as usually young boys working in the markets followed, clapped and even hooted at them.

Meanwhile, negotiations between the Islamabad administration and traders remained inconclusive. Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Mushtaq Ahmed held a meeting with all the groups of traders recently but the three-hour-long session ended without any result.

“They called us last week too and wanted to meet even today but there has to be a two-way discussion. We do not want to listen to the rhetoric - you have to abide by the directives,” said Kamran Abbasi, the president of the Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2015

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