The Muslim Tajir Ittehad and Lahore Retailers and the General Merchants Association have welcomed a decision to close markets on Friday but disagreed to have them shut by 9pm. A joint meeting, held with Rao Muhammad Akram Khan in the chair, condemned the decision, saying traders were never taken into confidence.
It also warned that if the government tried to force shopkeepers to close down their businesses they would stage demonstrations. They also demanded that the closing time be increased by one hour with general stores, medical clinics, confectioneries, bakeries and hotels being exempted from this schedule.