Traders observe complete shutterdown strike today

LAHORE - Almost all the leading businessmen and traders have unanimously announced to observe complete shutter-down strike and to take full part in the protest rally against the disqualification of Sharif brothers to be held on Friday (today).
President Lahore Chambers of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Mian Muzaffar Ali, keeping in view the sentiments of the business community, has decided to support the March 6 (today) strike call given by LCCI former President and former Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the LCCI President Mian Muzaffar Ali said that the Federal government should immediately take corrective measures to end political stalemate which is a prerequisite to improve law and order situation and for turning economy around in the country.
Mian Muzaffar Ali said that only due to political wrangling at national front a large number of ambassadors including the Ambassador of Finland Osmo Lipponen and Ambassador of Mexico Arturo Hernandez-Basave, who were due to visit the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the coming days have cancelled their visits, which is a bad omen for the country.
The LCCI President said that he was unable to understand that why the federal government had imposed Governor Rule in the province in the presence of an elected provincial assembly as if the Federal government had lost confidence in former Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif and acquired the backing of required number of MPAs it would have gone for a no confidence against him to bring in a new man. But it was very unfortunate that it went other way round and the whole nation is facing the consequences.
He said that the situation had reached the point where anti-social elements were challenging the writ of law openly while the industrial sector growth has nose-dived and is fast heading towards deteriorating position with every passing day.
Mian Muzaffar Ali said that the imposition of Governor's rule in the province of Punjab has sent a very wrong signal to the foreign investors who have now started showing their inability to put their money in any new venture in Pakistan. The LCCI President said that those who are sitting at the helm of affairs should take stock of the whole situation and review their decisions in the larger interests of the country.
Mian Muzaffar Ali said that all the economic indicators reveal damages the recent political wrangling has caused to the country and it is high time that all the wrong decisions should be reverted without any further delay.
Meanwhile, the Businessmen Action Forum, an alliance of business community of Punjab province, has also announced to take full part in the protest rally.
In this regard, an important meeting was held under BAF Chairman Muhammad Ali Mian in which a large number of traders of Lahore participated and shaped final programme.
Addressing the gathering, Muhammad Ali Mian asked the Federal government to immediately end infamous Governor's rule in Punjab and restore the PML-N government with its popular leader Mian Shahbaz Sharif.
He said that the businessmen of the Punjab province have established the Action Forum to save the community from the aftereffects of the illegal rule of a Governor, who has no vision for development and was working against the democracy.
He said that the business community was ready to accept orders of Shahbaz Sharif for unending call for strike throughout the province. "We have no desire to take part in politics but we are very much clear about the upcoming events in the wake of un-constitutional acts of rulers," he said.
"We will play our due role to strengthen national economy and to start our peaceful protest against the unconstitutional Governor's rule in Punjab," the BAF Chairman told the gathering.
He said that the Action Forum has pledged to continue to protest in a professional and peaceful manner until all its demands were met and Shahbaz Sharif was reinstated as Chief Minister of Punjab. He said that this forum has representation from all chambers and trader associations of the province.
Muhammad Ali Mian, a former President of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also invited the civil society, professionals and students to support the business community for the national cause. He said that the business community could feel on this stage that the economic prosperity would remain a dream without political stability and real democracy.
He said every citizen would have to play his or her due role and should support real leadership to achieve real political and economic stability. "Our country is standing at crossroad and one road is taking us to disunity, misrule, injustice and economic mismanagement while other path ensures real democracy, justice, unity and economic prosperity," he added.
He said that the restoration to Shahbaz Sharif as Chief Minister and end to the Governor's rule would be only answer to ongoing crises. "We should know that disqualification of Shahbaz Sharif has caused unrest among public as well as business community," he said.
Muhammad Ali Mian said that the Punjab government under Shahbaz Sharif was functioning perfectly well and had mustered popular support from the public. He said the whole business community strongly condemned the disqualification of the popular leader and imposition of the illegal and extra-constitutional Governor's rule in the Punjab.