Protests caused Rs150bn loss to economy
The protests spread uncertainty leading to the shutting down of business and trade activities.
KARACHI (Dunya News) – The country’s economy suffered a loss of Rs150 billion as the economic activities across the country remained at standstill for the last three days in the wake of countrywide protests after the Supreme Court acquitted Asia Bibi in blasphemy case.
The protests led by the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan party spread uncertainty leading to the shutting down of business and trade activities across the country.
Business activities at the ports were suspended and fuel shortage loomed as the supplies were halted in the major cities including Karachi and Lahore.
The activities in the vegetable markets also came down a half for the last three days, while the supplies of medicines were disturbed due to the closure of medicine markets.
On the other hand, the protests against the Supreme Court (SC) verdict in Asia Bibi case badly affected the timings of trains across the country.
The train service between Lahore and Faisalabad remained suspended while scheduled departure of Jaffar Express from Peshawar to Quetta was also canceled. Meanwhile, Allama Iqbal, Karakoram, Khushaal, Awaam, Karachi and Pakistan Expresses faced delay due to lack of passengers.
Moreover, routes of several trains were changed due to security concerns.
The protest were called off on Friday night after the government and Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) reached an agreement.
On October 31, Supreme Court (SC) had acquitted Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who was facing death sentence for blasphemy, and ordered to release her on immediate basis.
A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Saqib Nisar and comprising Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel and Justice Asif Saeed Khosa heard the case during which, Asia’s appeal against her execution was approved.
Following the decision, the protesters took to the streets and blocked main roads in different cities causing gridlock and school closures in key hubs like Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi.
