Business and commercial activities have been slow downed in the provincial capital for last one week due to extra-ordinary security measures during the Muharram. The Police erected barricade and hurdles, and sealed off the city and surrounding areas since the beginning of the Muharram.
A significant number of shoppers visiting bazaars have been declined during the last couple of days due to tightening security to avert any eventuality and maintain law and order in the 10th days of Muharram. Although, the traders leaders have also expressed their voice concern over closure of roads and various entry gates to the city. Despite that, the local administration and trader's agree to extend co-operation on 9th-10 Muharram, but a security plan was revised following the co-ordinated attacks on Shia mourners in parts of the country.
After last night synchronised attacks on Shia mourners in Karachi and Rawalpindi, the security plan has revised for further up-gradating it and a consultative meeting held by local administration with traders, urged for co-operation remaining days of Muharram.
Under the tough security measures, all major bazaars, shopping markets around city and cantonment remained closed down from Thursday till 10th of Muharram. Police sealed off the all entry points by installing iron rods and erected barricades and hurdles, while movement of general public and Afghans refugees also restricted towards Imambargahs and mouners processions. The district administration had completely close downed the Qissakhwani bazaar, Peepal Mandi Chowk, Sabzi Mandi, Kochi Bazaar, Kabari Bazaar, Dalgara, from Thursday to Sunday, for vehicular traffic to mitigate risks to law and order. Besides, Saddar bazaar, Shaheen bazaar, Meena bazaar, Hashtnagri, Karimpura, Chowk Yadgaar and their allied markets would observe November 24 and 25, coinciding with the 9th and 10th of Muharram, as holidays. The traders expressed reservations over closure of roads and various entry gates to the city and asked the administration to open some of the routes so that they could continue business activities.
Haleem Jan, Central Vice president All Pakistan Traders Alliance, he said the movement of people had completely been restricted, making lives of the residents and shopkeepers miserable. "We have great reservations over closure of roads and various entry gates to the city", he lamented. January further said the traders were ready to cooperate with administration by keeping their business shut on 9th and 10th of Muharram but police had erected fences even from beginning of the month of Muharram.
The trader's leader blamed that senior officials avoided coming out of their offices to restore confidence of people. He said that such severe restriction on movement of people was tantamount to keeping them hungry at homes. "We have assured full co-operation to the administration, but have requested it to make sure that no unnecessary programmes or new Ashura related processions are taken out," said Sharafat Ali Mubarak, president of Markazee Anjuman-i-Tajran, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Mubarak said that business activities recorded a decline by 70 per cent to 80 per cent during the first ten days of Muharram as compared to normal business days. He asked the administration to open some of the routes so that they could continue business activities.