R AWA LPIN DI/ISL AMA BA D: Responding to a countrywide strike call issued by traders associations across the country, the Islamabad and Rawalpindi businessmen kept their shutters down, observing a complete strike on Saturday to express solidarity with Palestine.

In the federal capital, business activities remained suspended in major markets, but the strike was not visible in neighbourhood markets such as Bhara Kahu, Sitara Market in G-7, and Margalla Town and the intercity transport service too remained operational. However, mostof the shops and business activities in the major markets, including Super Market and Jinnah Super, were largely closed.

In a statement, All Pakistan Anjuman Tajran President and Traders Action Committee Islamabad Ajmal Baloch and Secretary Information Khalid Chaudhry said that the business community across Pakistan expressed solidarity with the citizens of Palestine. Mr Baloch also led a protest against Israel and India at Aabpara Chowk.

In Rawalpindi, all the main commercial hubs in Raja Bazaar, City Saddar Road, Narankari Bazaar, Gunjmandi, Murree Road, Liaquat Road, Sarafa Bazaar, Bank Road, College Road, Urdu Bazaar, Sabzi Mandi, Mochi Bazaar, Jamia Masjid Road, Banni Chowk, Bara Market, China Market, and Commercial Market closed their shutters throughout the day.Even the city`s main fruit and vegetable market in Raja Bazaar was closed, while some stallholders established their stalls inthe main market.

Medical stores and restaurants in the city, which were also asked to participate in the strike, remained open, but the establishments had erected tents around their premises to avoid possible stone pelting due to the strike.

Overall, the strike was peaceful.

Due to the complete consensus between the three major factions of the Traders Association Rawalpindi, as well as the People`s Traders Cell and the Insaf Traders Wing, the business activities in all major commercial centres remained completely suspended.

On this occasion, the leaders of the three major factions of Rawalpindi, Shahid Ghafoor Paracha and Arshad Awan, thanked the traders of Rawalpindi city and cantonment for the successful strike and said that their hearts and souls beat with the Palestinians.

The purpose of the strike was to express solidarity with the Palestinians and to make the international community take notice of Israeli brutality, hesaid, adding the business community across the country stood with the Palestinians in every way.

All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association North Punjab also expressed solidarity with Gaza on Saturday. `We support the announcement of a nationwide strike by the business community and other political and religious parties,` said All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association North Punjab President Abrar Ahmed Khan in a statement.

Strike in Attock On the appeal of the Central Traders Association of Pakistan and the Jamaat-i-1slami Pakistan, a strike was observed in all six tehsils of Attock, similar to other parts of the country, in protest against Israeli atrocities in Gaza and to express solidarity with the Palestinians. Markets, shopping centres, vegetable and fruit markets, and other business hubs remained closed.