Trade associations are set to observe a nationwide shutter-down strike on Wednesday (today) against high electricity tariff, arbitrary taxes and unjust International Power Producer (IPPs) contracts. In a related move, Jamat-e-Islami (JI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Awami National Party (ANP) have also thrown their weight behind the traders' cause. Addressing a joint press conference in Islamabad, the office-bearers of two major groups of traders - All Pakistan Anjuman Tajiran and Markazi Anjuman Tajiran - expressed their resolve to observe a shutter-down strike across the country.
They categorically said they would not back out of the strike call, adding rumors were being spread regarding traders' negotiations with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). If the government is serious in holding dialogue with businessmen, first it will have to withdraw the notification of 'Tajir Dost Scheme', said Ajmal Baloch, president of All Pakistan Anjuman Tajiran and Kashif Chaudhry, chief of Markazi Anjuman Tajiran. They recommended that the government bring big fish into the tax net to steer the country out of the financial crisis and get rid of the IMF.
They asked rulers to stop burdening the masses with taxes, adding the traders would never pay arbitrary taxes. The trade association office-bearers said they have completed preparations for the strike, claiming shops and markets will remain closed in each village and city from Karachi to Khyber. The shut.