LAHORE, Sept 1: Almost all main markets in the city remained open on Friday but gave a rather deserted look mainly due to rain which continued throughout the day.

Traders’ bodies however have different things to say about the strike and sluggish activity.

Traders associated with government-backed Qaumi Tajir Ittehad termed the strike call a complete failure and claimed that an “insignificant number of shopkeepers” had responded to the call. Many shops were also closed because of rain and in the absence of buyers, they claimed.

The markets which did open included Liberty Market, Fortress Stadium, Ferozpur Road, Ichhra, Shahdman, The Mall, Hall Road, Anarkali, Shahalami, Akbari Mandi, Gunpat Road, Urdu Bazaar, Brandrath Road and Circular Road.

Some shops in Anarkali and Akbari Mandi were closed but traders gave different reasons. Those supporting the government thought it was rain which had slowed the business activity and forced shopkeepers to keep the shops closed. But those supporting the opposition claimed that it was in response to the strike call and a show of no-confidence in government policies.

Qaumi Tajir Ittehad president Sheikh Mushtaq said the business community remained dissociated from the strike call.

Ittehad chairman Ansar Zahoor Butt also termed the call an utter failure, and said the traders had unanimity of views on ignoring the strike call. “The business community has already suffered too much.”

Punjab Businessmen Forum chief Samiullah said there was a partial strike in the city.