Traders in all major urban centres of the country came together to protest against the government’s decision to increase taxes and electricity prices in the upcoming fiscal year, Quoted by The Express Tribune
Protests took place in cities including
- Rawalpindi
- Peshawar
- Islamabad (blocking the main road)
They chanted slogans and held banners and electricity bills during protests.
“This is purely a traders’ protest; no political party is allowed to claim it,” stated Aabpara Market General Secretary Akhtar Abbasi. “I am a member of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, but we have put politics aside for the public interest. We have raised our voices against the exorbitant increase in electricity bills for the sake of the poor,”
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“Traders nationwide are protesting the significant hike in electricity prices,” stated Ajmal Baloch, President of the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran. “Soon, the rulers will be held accountable by the people,” he warned.
The prime minister, who says our budget is made by the IMF, should resign immediately,” Baloch asserted. “There are twelve-hour power outages in the country. The same companies you make agreements with are responsible for generating electricity,” he added. “There is a 21% sales tax on a fourteen-thousand-rupee bill, followed by thirteen other types of taxes.” He criticised political leaders for not fulfilling their election promises. “Nawaz Sharif and Bilawal promised free electricity for up to 300 units during elections,” he said. “May God guide you, as you are failing to govern effectively,”
This protest was led by the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran, who is a trader’s associate. Protesters emphasized that the order of increased taxes and electricity prices should be taken down.
Baloch further pointed out that “Traders are protesting in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Karachi, Balochistan, and Sindh. There is no district or tehsil in Pakistan without protests right now.”
He issued a warning to the government: “If these electricity taxes are not withdrawn, we will initiate a shutter-down strike. If the government does not roll back the electricity price hike, we will decide on further actions after consultation.” “These rulers are not just thieves; they are robbers,” Baloch declared. “Prime Minister, listen carefully, your government is on shaky ground. Withdraw the taxes on electricity, or the next protest will be a siege of the Prime Minister’s House,”
Government Response:
Heavy Police presence was deployed to manage the protests and disperse demonstrators.
