Traders announce countrywide protest on Aug 29 & shutter down strike on 2nd Sept against skyrocketing hike in prices of electricity & petroleum products
ISLAMABAD, Aug 27 (SABAH): President Markazi Anjuman-e-Tajran Pakistan Muhammad Kashif Chaudhry while giving call of countrywide protest on August 29 against skyrocketing hike in prices of electricity and petroleum products has urged upon the entire nation to come out of their homes for the sake of staging protest. He also announced a shutter down strike on September 2.
Muhammad Kashif Chaudhry expressed these views while addressing a press conference along with the leadership of trader community at Islamabad here on Sunday. He further said although the rulers do not hold negotiations with them; however, they should curtail prices of electricity and petroleum products forthwith.
He warned that they would be out on the roads, crossroads and junctions to stage protests across the length and breadth of the country against the raise in price of electricity and petroleum products. On August 29, he warned a gigantic demonstration would be taken out at G-9 Markaz, Islamabad at 3:00 PM, he noted.
Muhammad Kashif Chaudhry warned if these issues are not sorted out, they would go towards shutter down and then complete shutter down. “We are not ready to compromise on our rights and interests at all costs,” President Central Organization of Traders of Pakistan added.
He maintained that the taxes should be imposed in a just manner and warned if “you don not do so, we would be out in the field to force the incumbent government to listen to grievances of the common man as well as traders.” He added, “Solution of country problems lies in increasing exports and decreasing imports.”
Skyrocketing hike in electricity and petroleum products proved to be bomb for the masses, he noted and continued they have initiated consultation on shutter down strike against such acts committed by the incumbent government. He said the government should sit with them as they will brief it about the mechanism that how the exports are to be enhanced.
Muhammad Kashif Chaudhry said that they would start protest movement while hoisting black flags in the markets across the country. He deplored that men were selling out their kidneys while women were selling out their jewelry for paying the electricity bills. “Provision of free of cost electricity to aristocracy is tantamount to rubbing salt in the wounds of poor nation,” he added.