Traders across Pakistan are furious at the new lockdown measures implemented by the government as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the country.
Rejecting the measures, the traders have threatened to keep their shops and businesses open despite government restrictions. They have also threatened to join the opposition led Pakistan Democratic Movement if they are forced to close down.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajran (APAT) President Ajmal Baloch and secretary Naeem Mir said, “If the government tries to force traders to shut their shops early, they will join the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and participate in its anti-government campaign.”
“We will keep our shops, marriage halls as well as educational institutions open to sustain our businesses,” they said. “People know how to keep themselves safe from the virus. So many political parties are holding jalsas in the country, are those gatherings coronavirus free?”
The representatives said that now they would not comply with any lockdown rules because the earlier lockdown already caused them significant monetary losses.
“This incompetent, corrupt government has already financially ruined us by wasting millions of our hard-earned money under the guise of COVID-19,” the APAT members said.
