PESHAWAR, March 31: City traders have demanded compensation from the government for the damage caused to their property by activists of the Pakistan Oppressed Nations Movement (Ponm) during a strike here on Thursday. In a hurriedly-called Press conference at a local hotel, President of the Hoteliers Association Abdul Haye and Tajir Grand Alliance President Habibullah said that the government should pay compensation to those traders whose property was damaged during the strike.

They threatened the government with observing strike if it did not pay compensation to the traders. The Ponam activists, during the strike, tried to close down restaurants and shops on the Jamrud Road by force and on the resistance from the management, they ransacked and damaged hotel and restaurants’ property. A mob of Ponm activists ransacked an ice cream parlour, Chief Burger, Lasania and Usmaina and other top restaurants of the city during the strike.

The government had assured the businessmen that it would provide protection to their property, the leaders of traders’ associations said.

They said it was unfortunate that the government failed to provide protection to them despite the presence of police which did nothing to stop Ponam activists.

On the one hand the government had asked foreigners to invest in the country, but on the other they could not provide protection to the traders.