The trading community of Khyber Pakhtunkwa on Friday observed complete shutter- down strike against proposed amendments in the Blasphemy Law. The call for a one-day shutter-down strike was given by the central organisation of the trading community aimed at building pressure on the government to refrain it from amendments in the law.
All busy shopping centres, bazaars and markets remain closed. Major bazaars including Saddar Road, Ashraf Road, Kochi Bazaar, Shaheen Bazaar, Meena Bazaar, Peepal Mandi, Karimpura, New Rampura Gate, Qissa Khawni, Jhanda Bazaar, Shoba auto parts market, currency and jewellery markets remain closed on Friday.
The protesters included the traders and workers of different political parties gathered at Chowk Yadgar to express solidarity with trading community. The workers of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Jamiate-Ulema (Islam JUI-F), Jamiate-Ulema Pakistan (JUP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) fully participated in the protest rallies.
Haji Haleem Jan, central president of the Markazi Anjuman-e-Tajran (grand body of the traders' association and Abdul Qader Saraf of the Jamaat-e-Islami backed Tajir Insaf Group, and district Amir Baharullah Advocate, and district general secretary Israrullah Peshawar led their workers and traders of the party backed shopkeepers in the rally.
The protesting traders were carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans against the proposed amendment in Blasphemy Law and demanded exemplary punishment over blasphemy of Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Addressing the protesting traders and political workers the leaders of the trading committee said that they had observed strike to build up pressure on the government to resist from any amendment in the blasphemy law. There was need to sentence the Christian woman to death over the blasphemy of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
They said that the vague role of government had hurt the sentiments of the Muslims and called for sacking of Governor Punjab, Salman Taseer. The government instead of providing way for the asylum for the woman should give exemplary punishment to her.
They also demanded of the government to cancel the National Assembly membership of Sheri Rehman, former Minister of Information for tabling the proposed amendment in Blasphemy Act. The workers of the religio-political parties held the government responsible for the growing chaos in the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkwa.
The government had completely failed to give any sigh of relief to the masses, they added. The rampant corruption, price hike, power and gas load shedding are ample proofs of the failure of the government. The protesters demanded of the government to sentence the Christian woman to death over the blasphemy of Holy Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).