LAHORE, Nov 8: Pakistan Awami Tehrik chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri said on Thursday protest strikes were not a part of the democratic process. Rather, he said, these were instruments of destroying national economy.

Talking to Qaumi Tajir Ittehad president Sheikh Mushtaq here, he said strikes amounted to economic suicide and terrorism.

He said the strikes would not benefit Afghan people in any manner and would also diminish the traders’ ability to extend support to them.

Dr Qadri urged the government to promulgate a law regulating protests and demonstrations and ban them in commercial areas. Protest meetings he said should be allowed only at places like Minar-i-Pakistan.