PESHAWAR, Sept 8: Local transporters’ associations and traders have announced support for Friday’s nationwide strike called by opposition parties. The mainstream political parties and religious groups have decided to observe a complete strike and hold protest rallies in the provincial capital to protest against the government’s policies.

Instead of organising a joint rally, political parties, including the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), People’s Party Parliamentarians and others, have planned to hold separate meetings and rallies.

It has been decided that provincial ministers, belonging to the MMA, will not attend any rally.

MNA Sabir Hussain Awan said that JI workers would stage a protest rally on the Grand Trunk Road opposite General Bus Stand at 7.30am.

He said that GT road would be blocked for traffic.

People’s Party Parliamentarians will hold a protest meeting at Chowk Yadgaar at 2.30pm, while the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) will take out a separate procession.

President of Action Committee Anjuman-i-Tajiran, Peshawar, Haji Haleem Jan told Dawn that traders would observe a complete strike and hold protest rally in the Qissa Khwani Bazaar on Friday morning.

He said the city’s main business centres, markets and bazaars would remain closed.

He said the traders fully backed the opposition parties’ move to put pressure on the government to prevent it from establishing diplomatic relations with Israel.

The Markazi Tanzeem Tajiran, a conglomeration of traders’ associations, has unanimously decided to support the strike call.

The local transporters’ association has also lent support to the strike call.

Senior Superintendent Police (operations) Saeed Wazir said that nobody would be allowed to force shopkeepers to keep shutters down or create a law and order situation.

He said the city’s police had chalked out a security plan according to which 95 platoons of police, 15 platoons of Frontier Constabulary and five platoons of Frontier Reserve Police would be deployed in Peshawar.