FAISALABAD, July 2 Although traders and shopkeepers have been bearing the brunt of hours long power suspension and high rates of electricity and fuel, all stakeholders responded to the shutter-down strike call given by a group of traders association callously as partial strike was observed in the district on Thursday.

Anjuman-i-Tajran (Sher group) president Rizwan Siddique had given a two-day shutter-down strike call on Tuesday in protest against the prolonged power outages, abolition of the self-assessment scheme and high rates of electricity and fuel.

Siddique said traders would also observe a shutter-down strike on Friday to press the government to mend its ways.

Most of the markets of Clock Tower bazaars -- Jhang, Bhawana, Kutchery and Chiniot -- remained opened. However, the Rail, Montgomery, Karkhana and Aminpur markets remained closed. A few markets were also seen doing business in the latter bazaars. Besides, markets of other areas did their business throughout the day.

A number of traders opened their shops in the evening in Clock Tower bazaars.

Handful traders of the Sher group also staged a protest rally and set used tyres on fire in Kutchery Bazaar and at Clock Tower intersection. They also chanted slogans against the Fesco management.

Another group of Anjuman-i-Tajran (Sakka group) did not observe strike and its office bearers visited different markets and rang traders to open their shops.

Both groups displayed banners in different bazaars to support their respective point of view. Police were deployed in force to avoid any clash between the two groups.

Meanwhile, Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Hamid Javed also raised his voice against the recent surge in fuel prices.

He urged the government to devise business-friendly policies and immediately withdraw the recent increase in fuel prices.