Announce extended business hours; Lawyers ask to restore regular court hours.
RAWALPINDI:
The temporary relaxation granted during Eidul Azha under the government’s energy conservation program came to an end on Sunday, prompting traders in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad to demand permanent withdrawal of the directive requiring markets and shops to close at 8 pm.
Representatives of the main merchant associations announced that starting Monday all markets and shopping centers will resume normal trading hours and will remain open until 10:00 p.m. or 11:00 p.m.
They warned that any attempt by the government to reimpose the early closure policy would be met with strong resistance and protests.
At the same time, officials of the High Court Bar Associations and District Bar Associations, along with senior lawyers, renewed their demand for the abolition of judicial holidays from Friday to Saturday, arguing that the policy has seriously disrupted the justice system and caused significant delays in court proceedings.
As part of the measures introduced to address the energy crisis and reduce oil consumption, the government had previously ordered the closure of commercial establishments at 8:00 p.m. and declared Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays holidays for courts and various public institutions. However, the policy of closing the market at 8 pm was temporarily suspended until May 31 due to Eidul Azha, while the extended weekends remained in force.
Following the expiry of the Eid grant, Anjuman-e-Tajran central president Sharjeel Mir, Kiryana Traders Association president Saleem Parvez Butt, Anjuman Tajran cantonment president Sheikh Hafeez and secretary Zafar Qadri sought complete cancellation of the early closure notification.
Trader leaders argued that regional tensions involving Iran, the United States and Israel had eased and there was no justification for reinstating restrictions on trading hours.
They argued that increased business activity and reduced fuel pressure had made the policy unnecessary, adding that early market closures had inflicted serious losses on traders and damaged business activity. They warned that any new attempt to enforce the measure would meet strong opposition.
Meanwhile, High Court Bar Association president Saeed Yousaf Khan, District Bar Association president Tariq Mahmood, senior advocate Sajid Awan and advocates Shan Zeb Khan and Masood Shah called for immediate withdrawal of the policy of closing courts from Friday to Saturday.
They argued that three consecutive weekly holidays had effectively paralyzed the judicial system, delaying hearings in important cases and making it increasingly difficult to deliver timely justice.
The lawyers urged the authorities to issue a circular ordering all courts to remain operational on Friday and Saturday, June 5 and 6, according to the usual schedule. Following the five-day Eidul Azha holiday, wholesale markets, goods transport operations, public and private offices as well as sessions, civil, family, magistrate and special courts will reopen on Monday.
As a result, commercial, business, administrative and judicial activities throughout the city are expected to return to normal, restoring normal bustle and economic activity.
