ISLAMABAD: Traders and industrialists in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have decided to write a letter to the government to seek compensation for their losses due the Azadi and Inqilab marches.
Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Shaban Khalid, while talking to Customs Today, said that business community is in favour of electoral reforms and eradication of corruption but it will not support any unconstitutional demand such as civil disobedience. He said that the business activities, especially in Blue Area, have come to a complete halt due to the marches as customers are unable to visit the biggest commercial centre of the city.
He said that the government is responsible for the current situation, adding, had the government accepted the opposition’s demands the situation would have not been worsened. “Due to the blockade of roads in the federal capital our imports and exports has come to a halt so both sides should show flexibility for the sake of the country and solve the issue on discussion table,” he said.
The vice president of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Munawar Mughal, said that after the end of sit-in he will ask the government to ban processions and protests in Islamabad. “The situation could have been averted earlier,” he added.
All Pakistan Trade Union President Ajmal Baloch was of the view that Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri were responsible for the situation in the capital and as the illegal sit-ins were costing the traders millions of rupees per day. He said that the government should not have allowed them to enter the capital due to which economy suffered Rs 40 billion loss. “Demanding the prime minister to step down is unconstitutional,” he said.
Islamabad Traders Welfare Organisation President Sarfraz Mughal demanded the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and the Pakistan Awami Tehreek to compensate the traders for their losses.
