LAHORE: The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has urged the Punjab Assembly to legislate against blockades and declare it a crime as it has become the most burning issue and hampering the trade, economic and social activities.
“Not only legislation should be done but its implementation in true sense of words should also be ensured by the district government, law enforcement agencies and other concerned departments.”
In a statement issued here, LCCI President Abdul Basit, Senior Vice President Amjad Ali Jawa and Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan said that blockade of busy roads and highways has become a tradition and causing huge loss to the trade and economic activities besides mentally torturing the masses.
They said that people from different walks of the life block the busiest roads which causes massive traffic mess and halts all activities. They said that trading goods, buyers, students and even ambulances stuck in traffic and cannot get through to the hospital.
“How or why are these elements playing havoc like that”, the LCCI office-bearers questioned and said that business community is unable to understand that how protest groups can get their rights through roads blockade.
The LCCI office-bearers said that tough peaceful demonstrations and other forms of public protests are a fundamental right but this does not mean that every demonstration or protest can be done at any time and at any location.
They said there should be balance between the right or Protestants and rights of citizens. They said that right to assemble for a cause should be permitted but the protest groups should be bound to abide rules and regulations for the things such as traffic congestion, blocking the busiest roads and sidewalks, disturbing the public and affecting the trade and economic activities.
The LCCI office-bearers said that gravity of situation is getting severe with every passing day therefore Punjab Assembly should react promptly and legislate immediately in this regard.
They said that protest groups should be bound to take prior permission for the demonstration & protests and time, place and manners should be decided by the government and law enforcement agencies should ensure implementation of government’s decision.
They also urged the politicians to show maturity and leave the politics of protests as these acts have encouraged the people to take to the roads and ruin everything.
