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In response to the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat strike call, the traders' community on Friday observed complete shutter down in the provincial metropolis to register its protest against the proposed amendment to the Blasphemy Law.
All leading markets and business centers including; currency market, paper market, Akbari Mandi, Mall Road, Hall Road, Liberty Market, Moon Market, Iqbal Town, Main Market Gulberg, Urdu Bazaar, Icchra Bazaar, Firdous Market, Gulberg, Anarkali, Main Boulevard Gulberg, Model Town Link Road, Circular Roan, Lohari Gate, Mochi Gate, Dehli Gate, Shahalam Market, Rang Mhal, Gwalmandi, Bedon Road, McLeod Road, Niclson Road, Mozang Road, Abid Market, Dhrampura, Shah Alam Market, Orega Center, Hafeez Centre, Moti Bazaar, Azam Cloth Market, and Naqi Market and many others remained completely closed.
The traders, under the banner of Mall Road Traders Association, held protest demonstration after the Jumma prayer out side Masjid Shuhda. A considerable number of traders, bearing placards mentioning slogans against the proposed amendment in the Blasphemy Law, took part in the rally.
While talking to Business Recorder the PML(N) Traders' Wing Media Advisor Mian Shafqat said the traders' community now has get united over this sensitive issue and resolved not to allow the government to make any amendment in the law at any cost.
"We strongly condemn the government's dual policy on the issue" he said and lamented that the government was habitual of creating issues again and again. The government, he said, had created unrest among the traders' community in past on the RGST issue. He categorically stated the business community would not let the government to take anti-Islam decision.
About the strike, Mian Shafqat said the decision was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the General Secretary (PML-N) Traders Wing Punjab Naeem Mir, which was also attended by Chairman (PML-N) Traders Wing Sohail Sarfraz Munj, President (PML-N) Traders Wing Lahore Babar Mehmood, and General Secretary Malik Kamran Saleem.
He further disclosed that the Jamat-e-Islami Secretary General Liaquat Baloch was also present in the meeting that unanimously decided to launch protest against the amendment in the law. He further warned the government to refrain from amending the law, as the public in general and traders in particular would never accept it. "We would not hesitate in sacrificing our lives for this cause" he maintained.
Talking to Business Recorder Sohail Sarfraz said that "We would resist any amendment in the blasphemy law by all means" and government should refrain from changing the present law, which was promulgated with consensus among all communities.
President Anjuman-e-Tajran Khalid Pervaiz while talking to this scribe claimed that the strike remained successful, as the city markets presented deserted look and everyone irrespective of his political affiliation positively responded the strike call. He further said the traders and the general public participated in the rallies across the country for Tahafuz-e-Namose-e-Risalat. The people from all walks of life and belonging to different political parties joined the strike.
He further said the Amendment Bill presented by Sherry Rehman at the National Assembly has raised concern among the masses. The trader's community has fully supported the religious parties on this issue.
Meanwhile various religious parties also held demonstrations in the city to protest against any change in the blasphemy law. Ulema in their Jumma sermons, threw light on significance of the law. Almi Tanzem-e- Ahlesunnat took out a procession at Data Darbar after Juma prayers. Participants chanted slogans against Governor Punjab Salman Taseer and others. Speakers in their speeches criticised the ruler for "aligning themselves with western agenda."
Workers of Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) hold rally outside Lahore Press Club. Principal Jamia Naeemia Dr Raghib Naeemi, Pir Ather ul Qadri, Raza-e-Mustafa, Mohammed Ali Naqshbandi, and other prominent leader of Sunni Ittehad Council led the demonstration.
Participants later marched up to the Governor House and staged a sit in there. Dr Ragib warned the government against its intentions to amend the law and said that faithful would repeat the example of Ghazi Ilm uddin if the law was amended. Nawaz Kharal demanded the government to proceed against Salman Taseer and Sherry Rehman for hurting the feelings of the masses. Tehrik-e-Tahuffuz-i-Namoos-i-Risalat had announced a big rally on 9th of January in Karachi to further press the government about blasphemy law.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2011

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