Traders of Lahore have divided into two groups over their plan to observe shutter down strike to protest the Lahore High Court (LHC) decision of debarring PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif from standing in the bye-election.
The Qaumi Tajir Ittehad President Azhar Saeed Butt has announced a three-day shutter down strike against the LHC verdict from June 27 to 29, but the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tijran (APAT) led by Haji Maqsood Butt has given shutter down call only for Saturday, June 28.
Both the groups claim of being real representatives of the traders and both are trying to win the support of coalition parties PML-N and PPP by announcing the strikes.
Traders of the Akbari Mandi, the largest commodity market in Lahore, told Business Recorder that both the traders organisations have circulated pamphlets and handbill calling for observing strike. They said that they are undecided as to whose call (APAT or QTI) they should respond for the strike.
In the meantime, Lahore Sarafa and Jewellers Association president Haji Afzal and general secretary Rana Javaid in their joint statement announced they will observe strike on June 27 to protest the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif.
On the other hand, leaders of the Pakistan Business Forum Samiullah Butt, Chaudhry Muhammad Shafiq alleged that leaders of both the traders' organisations were remnants of General Musharraf and they have personal motives behind the strike call. They said the traders were not with them and failure of their strike call is certain. "We request the Sharif brothers and traders to be aware from enemies in the garb of friends," they added.