KARACHI, March 19: A majority of associations of local traders and market associations on Saturday announced to close their businesses and participate in the million march of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) to protest against the price-hike and growing unemployment. A decision to this affect was taken at a meeting of the heads of traders associations, chaired by the president of the All Pakistan Organization of Small Traders and Cottage Industries, Mahmood Hamid.

They also appealed to the people to participate in the march to denounce government’s economic and foreign policies.

The meeting was attended by the office-bearers of Jodia Bazaar, Khajoor Bazaar Associations, Old City Alliance, Merit Road Khori Garden Traders, Small Traders Group, Pakistan Small Printing Press Association, Small Traders Ittehad Urdu Bazaar, Traders of Babar Market, Landhi Korangi Traders Federation, Traders of Nazimabad, Liaquatabad Traders Welfare Association, Bohra Pir Traders Group, Muhammadi Market Association, Traders Association Quaidabad, Malir Town Traders Alliance, Zargran-i-Quaidabad, Saddar Traders Association, Small Traders Alliance Empress Market, Bahadurabad Traders Ittehad, Steel Market Liaquatabad, Kiryana Market Liaquatabad, Prime Centre Traders Association.

PTI: The Chairman, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, on Saturday directed workers of his party to participate in the MMA’s million march on March 20 considering it a “national responsibility”, besides telling them to approach the common man people to attend the rally.

He asked the provincial PTI president to himself monitor the preparations for the march.

JUP: The Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan (JUP), a component party of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal on Saturday appealed to the masses to participate in the alliance’s million march and make it a success.

The asked the public to give a warm-hearted welcome to the MMA leaders on reaching Karachi.

“It is the need of the hour to launch struggle against the increasing inflation, unemployment and obscenity.”—PPI