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KARACHI: The postponement of a strike called for Tuesday to protest against the ‘bhatta mafia’ caused estrangement between the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad, which reaffirmed on Monday that it would stick to its original strike plan for April 5, accusing the KCCI of betraying its partners with lesser influence.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Awami National Party announced that they would support the strike called by the AKTI, representing over 300 market bodies.
Leaders of the KCCI — who last week announced that they would go on strike after hundreds of shopkeepers staged a protest demonstration on M. A. Jinnah Road and demanded action against the scourge — sounded convinced about the ‘promised measures’ and decided to defer their protest to April 12.
They relied on the government assurance that defined action against extortion suspects and enhanced security situation mainly in commercial areas. However, the KCCI leaders warned they would go on ‘shutter-down strike for an infinite period’ from April 12 if the government failed to keep its promises.
“In fact, we held a number of meetings with top officials and key members of the provincial political administration,” said Saeed Shafiq, the chief of the KCCI, which had earlier called a strike for April 5.
“They came up with promises that action had already been taken and it would be perceptible within the next few days. We put those assurances before our members, who suggested that the call be deferred for another week.”
However, he claimed they were not under any pressure from any quarter that made them review their earlier call but insisted the strategy was designed in line with the traders’ interests.
However, the arguments of the KCCI, considered a body representing industrialists, major exporters and key traders rather than small traders, failed to convince thousands of shopkeepers and small traders, believed to be the prime victim of extortion.
Senior leaders, representing hundreds of markets across the city, gathered after the KCCI announcement and within an hour rejected the postponement call. The AKTI in the next few hours won support of the two major political parties.
“In fact, the KCCI hardly cares about the shopkeepers and small traders,” said Ateeq Meer of the AKTI. “Last week they announced a strike for April 5 without consulting the market association but we supported the appeal as it was in the interest of all traders. But today (Monday) they backtracked, citing government assurances and meetings, where we were never invited.”
He said extortion was more an issue of the traders who had their business interests in the ‘middle of the city without any security arrangement’ than those industrialists who enjoyed security facilities to some extent.
“The markets across the city will remain closed tomorrow (Tuesday) and the protest may continue until government measures are seen on ground,” added Mr Meer.
His stance was supported by the MQM and the ANP, which promised to stand with the traders even if it was needed for an indefinite period.
“Karachi is the lifeline of the economy of the country and the demand of extortion by terrorists from the business community is adversely affecting business activities in the city,” said an MQM statement. “The MQM has expressed solidarity with the business community and announced its support for the strike call on Tuesday.”
Similarly, the ANP, another government coalition partner both in the province and at the centre, also saw the traders on the right path and “praised their courage to raise their voice”.
“The ANP is against all injustices whether it’s extortion, targeted killings or other issues,” said an ANP spokesman. “We firmly believe the April 5 strike call by the traders against extortion is justified and assure them of our support even if they continued this protest for an indefinite period.”
