Share this story!            

Anxiety, rumours, panic

LAHORE: “Bearded men are coming with sticks, shut down your shops and run!” “They’ve burnt a bank and a restaurant in Garden Town!” “Rioters have taken over!” These rumours were the order of the day. The rumours increased in the afternoon after a man died in Punjab University riots. All major business centres and markets were partially closed and shops kept closing and reopening. Police and paramilitary forces guarded all important buildings and roads, fuelling the rumours. Rumours of the mob damaging shops in Gulberg’s Mini Market, restaurants on MM Alam Road, a barbeque shop on Gurumangat Road caused businesses to close down because of fear. Similar rumours closed down Liberty Market, all shops in and near Anarkarli and all markets in Garden Town. Some traders opened their shops on The Mall, some for business and others to assess the damage caused by Tuesday’s violence. shahnawaz khan

Home | National

Share this story!