A delegation comprising traders from different markets of the federal capital in an emergent meeting at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ICCI) strongly protested against the non-release of trade leaders despite assurances by Interior Minister Rehman Malik. Three trade leaders Ajmal Baloch, Malik Rab Nawaz and Malik Hamid were arrested on September 26.
The delegation members warned that if the trade leaders were not set free by Tuesday, a shutter down strike would be observed and all the responsibility of any law and order situation would fall on police and local administration who were ignoring the instructions of the Interior Minister.
Talking to the delegation, ICCI President Zahid Maqbool said businessmen were backbone of local economy and it was the responsibility of the government to protect their business interests. He said how business community could focus on promoting business activities in an environment where they had no guarantee for their future.
He said basic cause of such disputes was non-promulgation of a balanced Rent Control Act in Islamabad and stressed the government to immediately promulgate a fair Rent Control Act, in consultation with all stakeholders to equally protect the rights of tenants and owners so that Islamabad could get rid of rent disputes.
He said Islamabad had already witnessed great unrest and complete shutter down in recent past due to such incidents which had badly affected local economy, and the government should not further delay enactment of this act to ensure durable peace in the federal capital.
He urged Interior Minister Rehman Malik to personally intervene in the matter and direct local administration to immediately release the traders so that instead of fighting for their rights, business community could concentrate on promotion of economic activities in a peaceful atmosphere.