FAISALABAD, June 2: A complete shutter-down strike was observed in eight bazaars of Clock Tower and markets of other areas against the excessive power outages and different protest demonstrations were also staged on Saturday.

The strike call for Friday to Sunday was given by different trader associations on May 30 after a meeting at the Clock Tower.

Markets at Kutchery, Rail, Kharkhana, Montgomery, Jhang, Bhawana, Aminpur, Chiniot bazaars, D-Ground, Susan Road, Grain Market, Sattiana Road and other areas remained closed the whole day.

People staged protest demonstrations in different areas including Jhal Chowk, Sattiana Road and Kutchery Bazaar and put tyres on fire. They also subjected some vendors to torture in Kutchery Bazaar who were doing their businesses.

Talking to Dawn, City Anjuman-i-Tajran Secretary-General Mehmood Alam said the traders would also observe strike on Sunday (today).

He said day-long shutdown showed complete distrust of traders on the federal government.

He said the traders had observed two-day shutter down, however, not a single incumbent of the federal government bothered to contact them. He said the power crisis had buffeted every segment of society and left no option for the business community but to go for shutter-down strike.

Announcements of traders regarding siege of parliamentarians’ houses had forced the inspector general of police and home secretary to visit Faisalabad. The provincial government officials held talks with trader representatives and incumbents of the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

They were briefed by the police and district government officials. Sources privy to the meeting told Dawn that the officials had asked the traders to refrain from damaging the public and private properties and did not besiege the residences of parliamentarians. They also asked the police officials to protect the Fesco installations ensuring their protection by any means.

Alam confirmed that they were called by the Punjab government officials who convinced them not take law into their hands. He said they were informed that none of the trader wanted damage to any kind of property.

He said the Fesco officials were also called in the meeting for a dialogue with traders, however, traders categorically said it would be useless to have meeting with them because they could not resolve the issue of electricity.

A group of traders led by Rana Shafat, secretary of another Anjuman-i-Tajran group, were also summoned by the Punjab government officials for meeting, however, they refused to meet them.

Talking to this reporter, he said some of the traders had been trying to give the traders’ cause a `political colour.’ He said prior to the announcement of the shutter-down call it had been decided that not a single politician would be allowed to hijack the strike for political gains. He said the Punjab government officials had visited only to get response so that strong message could be given to the federal government.