LAHORE - All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Tajiran, the apex body of traders, has demanded of the government 20 per cent quota in national and provincial assemblies’ seats in the upcoming elections, said a press release issued here on Friday.
According to the release, the demand was raised in a national traders convention held in Rahim Yar Khan, which was attended largely by the traders bodies representatives from all across the country.
“All political parties should fix at least 20 per cent share of seats in provincial as well as national assemblies,” the speakers demanded in traders convention. The convention was presided over by the APAT central president Mian Abdul Mannan, beside others it was attended by APAT central chairman Kh Shafiq from Multan, central general secretary Naeem Mir from Lahore, Shahid Ghafoor Paracha from Rawal Pindi, Babar Khurana from Gujranwala, Haji Haroon Memon from Sukhar, Haji Haleem Jan from KPK, Abdul Rahim Kakar from Quetta and Abdul Qayum Qureshi from Larkana.
The speakers blasted the government anti-traders policies, saying the time of protest has passed, and now they will launch a long march towards Islamabad if their demands, which were submitted to the FBR in the form of budget proposals, are not fulfilled.

APAT general secretary Naeem Mir, while addressing the traders’ convention, urged the govt to hold local bodies elections in all provinces, as due to lack of local representatives the traders are suffering a lot.
Central president Mian Abdul Mannan said all traders of the country are united and no one can divided them. He said that APAT will bring all factions of the Lahore traders on one platform.
Central chairman Khawaja Shafiq said that provincial governments like the federal government have totally failed to deliver any facility to traders and general public. He criticized the extortion mafia in Karachi and increasing incidents of killing as well as kidnapping in Balochistan.