LCCI Urges Punjab Assembly To Legislate Against Road Blockades

LAHORE, Nov 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 09th Nov, 2016 ) : Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) Wednesday urged the Punjab Assembly to legislate against blockades and declare it a crime as it has become the most disturbing issue and hampering trade, economic and social activities.

LCCI President Abdul Basit, Senior Vice President Amjad Ali Jawa and Vice President Muhammad Nasir Hameed Khan said here that not only legislation should be done but its implementation in true sense of words should also be ensured by the district government, law-enforcement agencies and other relevant departments.

They said that blockade of busy roads and highways had become a tradition and causing huge loss to the trade and economic activities, besides mentally torturing the masses. They said that people from different walks of the life block the busiest roads which causes massive traffic jam and halts all activities, while trading goods, buyers, students and even ambulances stuck in traffic and could not get through to the hospital.

LCCI office-bearers said that business community was unable to understand that how protest groups could get their rights through roads blockade, adding that though peaceful demonstrations and other forms of public protests were fundamental right but this did not mean that every demonstration or protest could be done at any time and at any location.

They said there should be balance between the rights of protestors and the rights of citizens. The right to assemble for a cause should be permitted but protest groups should be bound to abide by the rules and regulations for things such as traffic congestion, blocking the busiest roads and sidewalks, disturbing the public and affecting trade and economic activities.

LCCI office-bearers said that gravity of situation was getting severe with every passing day therefore Punjab Assembly should react promptly and legislate immediately in this regard. They said that protest groups should be bound to take prior permission for demonstration and protests and time, place and manners should be decided by the government and law enforcement agencies should ensure implementation of government�s decision.

They also urged the protesting politicians to show maturity and leave the politics of protests as these acts had encouraged the people to take to roads and ruin everything.