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PESHAWAR, Sept 9: The business community observed partial strike on call given by the opposition against the federal government. Public transport started plying on the roads in the morning and the number of buses and vans gradually increased, while rickshaws and taxis operated as usual.
About half the shops in main markets in the provincial capital remained closed.
Life in the city returned to normal by afternoon.
The opposition parties had given the strike call to press their demand for restoration of the constitution in its original form, formation of an independent election commission and end to army interference politics and against alleged rigging in local government polls.
The Shoba bazaar and Karkhano bazaar were closed because shopkeepers observe holiday on Friday.
About half of the shops in Khyber bazaar, Qissakhwani, Ashraf Road and Saddar were closed in the morning. However, businessmen opened their shops after Friday prayers.
Residents in Hayatabad said the small markets in the township remained open since the morning.
Activists of the Jamaat-i-Islami, led by MNA Sabir Hussain Awan, marched on the Grand Trunk Road near the General Bus Stand in the morning chanting slogans against the federal government and President Gen Pervez Musharraf.
No incident of violence was reported.
MANSEHRA: The call for strike fell flat in the district and all trade and business centres remained open. Transporters also did not respond to the strike call.
SWABI: Transporters and traders rejected the call for strike.
Heavy contingents of police were deployed to handle any law and order situation.
KARAK: A protest procession was taken out in Karak city by the opposition parties.
However, shops and business centres remained open and vehicles continued plying on the roads.
LAKKI MARWAT: Shops, business centres and schools remained open in almost all localities of the district.
KOHAT: The business community and transporters ignored the strike call.
A protest meeting in the city’s main bazaar was addressed by the provincial secretary-general of the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Mohammad Abid, Israr Shinwari and Sher Khan. Attendance in the meeting was thin.
The speakers condemned establishment of relationship with Israel and said the rulers stood exposed as they had admitted to having been in touch with the Zionists for decades.
They demanded withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan and Iraq and asked Israel to vacate the occupied land of Palestine besides handing over Al Quds to Muslims.
NOWSHERA: Transport continued to ply on the road but business centres and markets remained closed.
A procession was taken out in Nowshera town, where opposition leaders lashed out at the government for establishing contacts with Israel. They accused police of attempting to foil the strike and demanded transfer of the district police officer.
