ISLAMABAD: The capital traders and business community on Saturday warned of a series of protests if the government does not bring a balanced rent control law in the federal capital by Dec 19.

Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club, the representatives of traders and the business community stated that after the deadline they would display banners in the first phase at various markets.

All markets of Islamabad would observe partial shutter down from 2pm to 4pm and traders of every market would stage a sit-in at their nearest Chowks.

“If still the demand was not met, we would announce our next action plan on Dec 21 which may include complete shutter down and dharna in front of the Parliament House,” Ajmal Baloch, President of Markazi Anjuman-i-Tijran Pakistan, said.

He was flanked by Muhammad Naveed, Senior Vice-President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kashif Chaudhry of Tajir Ittehad, Khalid Chaudhry, Secretary Traders Action Committee, Islamabad, Imran Bukhari Senior Vice President Islamabad Chamber of Small Traders, Khursheed Qureshi, President Jamiatul Qureshi and Ch. Nadeem of PTI Traders Wing.

They said that traders were feeling insecure due to absence of a balanced rent control act in Islamabad.

“We appeal to Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal that till the passage of new rent law for Islamabad, they help rescind the eviction orders issued to 48 traders,” Mr Baloch said, who is a supporter of the ruling PML-N.

Media was informed that Mian Abdul Manan, PML-N MNA and Asad Umar MNA from Islamabad who belongs to the PTI had presented a private member bill for a balanced rent control act in the National Assembly, which was approved by the concerned standing committee and the ICT Administration, but it has not been passed into a law as yet.

The traders have appealed to the prime minister and the law minister to get the amended rent control bill passed from the Parliament.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2017