The Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) on Monday, with the help of party’s baton-wielding group, forced the shopkeepers and traders to shut down their shops and businesses in several parts of Lahore, Karachi and other cities. However, the police urging the owners to reopen their business assuring them of protection, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The TLP’s baton-wielding group made the shops shut in Azam Market’s Kashmir and Karachi blocks. 

The New Alamgir Market and adjoining markets were also made closed. The activists of the TLP forced the shop-owners to observe shutter down strike in Ichhra Bazaar and Hall Road. The passage leading to the Hall Road was closed by the TLP.

The party workers were forcing traders and businessmen in several other parts of the city to close down their businesses and shops to make the strike successful. 

Meanwhile, traders from Karachi rejected the strike call given by TLP against inflation and price hike in petroleum products. 

Leaders of trade bodies said they were already suffering from recession and not earning much.

They further said that strikes were not a solution to problems. 

Karachi Wholesale Grocery Association president Abdul Rauf Ibrahim said any halt in food supplies could add to the miseries of the poor.  He said strike was not a proper solution to inflation issue. 

Anjuman Tajran Sindh president Javed Qureshi also refused to support the TLP strike call saying economic condition of the country was not good, so they could not support strike. 

All Karachi Tajir Alliance chairman Hakim Shah said in the prevailing circumstances traders were not in favour of closing down shops and promoting a culture of strikes. 

Electronics Dealers Association president Muhammad Rizwan asked the TLP to review its strike call. 

Tariq Road Traders Alliance general secretary Saleem Unar that all markets will remain open as usual. 

Though trade organizations and their leaders were in agreement regarding inflation and price hike in the country, they refused to shut down their businesses.

Reporter Shahzad Khan