Newspaper deliveries across Islamabad came to a halt when municipal authorities shut down Akhbar Market in Aabpara on disputed dues totaling about Rs. 10 million.
The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad's Directorate of Municipal Administration executed the shutdown, which cut off supplies to local residents, embassies, the President's Office, and the Prime Minister's Office.
Officials from the All Pakistan Akhbar Farosh Federation contested the payment demand, stating they already paid the market rent. They claimed the disputed amount involved a nearby vacant plot that the federation never leased or received an allotment for.
Federation Secretary General Tikka Khan and other members met with Chief Commissioner and CDA Chairman Sohail Ashraf to ask for his intervention, adding that newspaper deliveries will stay suspended until authorities unseal the market.
A Directorate of Municipal Administration representative defended the closure by stating the market still owes charges, though he noted officials are reviewing the situation.
In a separate action, the Directorate of Municipal Administration kept the G-6 and H-9 weekly bazaars closed on Friday because of fire safety worries, which caused trouble for shoppers and vendors.
Officials stated these markets will open again once emergency services from the CDA check fire safety measures and grant clearance. Meanwhile, vendors argued they put in working safety gear and asked for inspections.
The H-9 bazaar faced previous fires, such as a major blaze in June starting in Block C, an area mostly containing shoe stalls. Officials emphasized that safety standards will remain strict.
