MARDAN, Feb 11: Shopkeepers have warned to observe a shutter-down strike if the Punjab Regiment Centre (PRC), which owns their shops, continued pressing with increasing rent and security deposit.

The (PRC) has several commercial markets in the city. In one such plaza on the Charsadda road, it has rented out shops to local people on advance security deposit.

In a press statement issued here on Monday, president of the market, Mustafa Kamal, said they had received a notice from the centre one week ago for increase in the rent and security deposit, but they had refused to accept it.

He said that on Monday an official of the PRC, Major Abbas, came to the market and tried to lock the shops.

He said they would not vacate the shops or accept increase in the rent because they had invested huge amounts of money. He demanded that the increase should be withdrawn.