On the call of Ahle Sunnat-wal-Jamaat, the city remained shut for the lack of security by the government to citizens and business centres, trader said, adding that "the strike had big impact on the trade and businesses because of lack of protection to buyers and traders".
"Strike caused closure of CNG and patrol stations which barred the public transport to run as a result markets could not resume activities due to the labourers' absence," said President, Organisation of All Pakistan Small Traders and Cottage Industry, Mehmood Hamid.
Public transport could not start as violent protestors stormed main roads in many areas of the city in a bid to ground the buses, mini-buses, coaches and other private transportation means. "Protestors on the call of a religious party took to the streets early morning to impose the strike on transporters, commuters and traders even in small area of the city," eyewitnesses told Business Recorder.
Ahle Sunnat-wal-Jamat gave the strike on Tuesday evening after its leader Aurangzeb Farooqui came under attack by unknown gunmen in the city killing six of his guards and left him injured. The killings triggered violence and vandalism in many areas immediately, resulting public transport had diminished to ply on road while markets were forced to abandon activities, traders said.
Mehmood Hamid said another closure which was forced on the public, amid growing security fears, caused at least "Rs7 billion" loss on the national economy. "Entire cottage industry and 80 percent of markets in the city remained closed due to the strike," he said.
He called it a "complete" strike, leaving industrial production and business activities to nothing. He said the cottage industry suffered the most from the strike. He said labourers who earn wages on a daily basis at markets could not make any movements to reach their jobs for lack of transportation and fears of violence. He urges the government "to make forced closures of markets and businesses a crime through effective legislation".
The government should exercise its writ to establish peace and stop vandalism. "Killings of leaders are not the traders' faults whom are forced to abort their businesses at gunpoint," he said. He said inflation has grown while earning of labourers reduced because of the poor law and order situation. He said unless the government takes brisk steps, situation in the city seems to deteriorate further. Supplies of grain, food, medicines, vegetables and other essential commodities remained shut for lack of closure of markets.