950826

Pindi-Islamabad

traders observe

complete strike

NISAR AHMAD SHEIKH

ISLAMABAD: A complete and peaceful shutter-down strike was observed in the twin-cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Saturday to protest against the attitude of the CBR by not withdrawing the conditionalities in form 'A' of the income tax return.

The shutter-down was so complete that even the chemist shops, small hotels and khokas were closed. The public transport was very scanty. The weekly holiday in an indirect manner helped the strike achieving success.

Taking advantage of the strike, the office-bearers of the Traders Action Committee of Islamabad held a press conference to agitate against the intractable attitude of the government in meeting their long standing demands which included the introduction of Rent Control Act in the capital city and the holding of so-called industrial exhibitions to the detriment of the small traders who have a small clientele which is further restricted with the holding of three 'bazaars' in the capital. The demand against the permission to hold the so-called industrial exhibition assumed a tragic dimension with the 'shahadat' of the vice-president of the Traders Action Committee of the city.

The office-bearers of the committee - the president, the second vice-president and general secretary - said they are in possession of the medical certificate which indicated that their vice-president was murdered due to the atrocious attitude of the city magistrate who threatened to teach him a lesson and ordered the police to take action there and then. According to the medical certificate the deceased received head and chest injuries which caused his death. Over and above this, the deceased remained lying on the road for about 45 minutes and no medical aid was provided on the spot.

They were also critical of the police which refused to register case against the city magistrate who has been named in the application made to the concerned police station.

The action committee office-bearers warned that if action is not taken against the official named by them, then they will be forced to resort to direct action. The action should be taken by Monday evening when the action committeewill hold 'Quran Khwani' at the site of the 'shahadat' of their vice-president, and the administration will be solely responsible for any untoward situation.

Talking about the so-called industrial exhibitions, the committee officials said that it is being held every year in the name of promotion of industrial output of the country. A group of office-bearers of the Islamabad Chamber of Commrece and Industry manipulates the exhibition and pockets the money generated through the allotment of plots and stalls. Last year alone, they earned a hefty amount of Rs 1,73,00,000 and pocketed the money, they alleged.

The most disturbing aspect of the industrial exhibitions has been that the whole-sellers of the Rawalpindi put up their stalls in collaboration with a particular group which is present at the industrial exhibitions held in various cities of the country. They fleece the people by selling No. 2 goods. They said the industrial exhibition should display goods manufactured by various industrial units directly who should sell their goods at the factory rate with guarantee of being the original products.

Turning to the income tax return, they pointed out that the concessions given by the government are not acceptable because these have been incldued in the income tax return. It is a measure to further the strangle-hold of the CBR on the small traders.

Replying to a question, the general secretary of action committee said that the traders of Islamabad have been groaning under the increasing rents of shops with threats of expulsion, holding of three bazaars in a week and the industrial exhibitions. They have been protesting against the industrial exhibitions and non-levy of Rent Control Act for the last 15 years but the successive governments did not show any interest in enacting the necessary legislation.

To another question, he said that the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry did not support them for the acceptance of their demands. The chamber only looks after the interests of the industrialists like the issue of licences, exports and imports and exemptions of different kinds whereas the problems of the small traders are totally different towards which the chamber is totally apathetic. He said it would be appropriate if a separate chamber of commerce is set up to look after the grievanes of the small traders.

Answering another question, he said that the shutter down strike is devoid of any political motives. We are protesting against the non-acceptance of our genuine demands which if not met, will force them to launch a movement. He said the representatives of the Peoples Traders Cell are present at the press conference which proves that the small traders are united for the acceptance of their demands. He pointed out that during the last country-wide strike, out of 33 chambers 32 observed the strike and the non-striking chamber was the Islamabad Chamber. But today's strike is being observed in a 'pin drop' silence in all the markets of the twin cities. The office-bearers of each market, who are present here, remained vigilant in their markets to prevent any untoward incident.

He said the small traders, in addition to the two-day strike are observing a three-day 'soug' along side the strike to mourn the 'shahadat' of their vice-president who laid down his life for the cause of the traders.