PTI protest won’t affect govt: traders

LAHORE

A protest call of Imran Khan from August 7 will not affect the government despite the fact that he is launching it against the corruption and injustice, so public should support it, while public is fed up with sit-ins and protests have made the business difficult on Mall Road.

These views were expressed by the traders and businessmen in Jang Economic Session on ‘Protest call of the PTI – business community concern’, here on Monday. The panellists were Hameed Akthar Chadah, Pervaiz Hanif, Ashraf Bhatti, Raja Hamid Riaz, Ameen Mazhar Butt, Tahir Naveed and Tariq Feroze while hosted by Sikandar Lodhi.

Hameed Akthar Chadah said that PTI movement would neither topple the government nor the approach of the rulers while every institution was in grip of corruption from top to bottom. He said majority of population should pay tax while making the traders tax payers was crucial for the promotion of business. He said business community would not take part in PTI protest while all political parties should get united at a single platform against the Panama Leaks.

Pervaiz Hanif said corruption was ruling in every institution and social justice was unavailable which was growing public problems and depression among them. He said corrupt officials should be punished on the pattern of China and Singapore to discourage corruption. He said brutal accountability from top to bottom was required to make the working of the institutions transparent. He suggested the public should not participate in protest as it would damage the economy.

Ashraf Bhatti said local and foreign investment was affected during the last protest and sit-in and much time was required to recover the economy from this deficit. He said the middle and lower middle level businesses were adversely affected with law and order, internal and external matters and in such situation protest would add fuel to fire.

Raja Hamid Riaz said protest and sit-in paralysed life and worst-ever economic turmoil was never seen before, especially on Mall road and other adjacent markets. Their problems are growing due to protests, he said, adding that the sit-in would not politically benefit rather adversely affect the economy. He suggested that all protests and rallies should be diverted to Minar-e-Pakistan and banned on Mall Road, Shimla Pahari and other adjacent areas.

Ameen Mazhar Butt said opposition voice was not given importance in Pakistan despite huge corruption of rulers while public issues were resolved through protests and sit- in. He said progressive taxation system was required for eradication of corruption.

Tahir Naveed said PTI agenda was eradication of corruption from Pakistan which was public demand. He said investment affected with corruption not with protest. He said current and successive government had voiced against the corruption but never take any action after coming into power. He said no road should be affected due to protest or VIP protocol. Tariq Feroze said protest against missing basic facilities, education, health, clean drinking water, corruption and bad governance was right of public. He said the government had ignored every sector so people randomly come on roads to press for their demands.