PESHAWAR, June 23: The transporters of Kalakhel area in the Frontier Region of Peshawar have stopped plying their vehicles on Matani-Adezai Road for the last over a week owing to fear of bomb blasts and killings of villagers in passenger vans. Dawn

In the prevailing situation transporters could not take a risk to put their lives and vehicles in danger, said a driver. “Two vehicles were blown up in the first week of June but the owners have not been compensated so far,” he told . The driver said that people of the area didn't visit other localities unnecessarily owing to insecurity. At least 11 persons were killed and more than 12 injured in two recent blasts, he said, adding most of the victims belonged to Kalakhel area.

The transporters said that people of the area were not faced with any threat before forming peace bodies against militants. “But now everyone is feeling insecure,” they added.

They said that in the past about 30 pick-ups used to make double trips on the road on daily basis. “Now, all of a sudden all of them have been parked. It has also led to severe shortage of various daily use items in the area,” they added.

Khana Dost, an elder of the area, said that people couldn't avoid going to bazaars and Peshawar city in connection with their routine work otherwise they would have preferred to remain indoors.

“Now the people of Matani are not ready to provide parking lot to our vehicles owing to security reasons,” he said and added that traders of Matani had asked their drivers to avoid parking vehicles in the bazaar.

Mr Dost said that blasts had also destroyed several shops in the bazaar. “The population of Kalakhel is about 16,000. About 50 per cent of Kalakhel residents have bought motorcycles and other vehicles to avoid travelling in public transport,” he added.

He said that upper Kalakhel was close to Khyber Agency while the lower area was situated near FR Kohat. The people, he said, were peaceful but in the existing situation they were forced to leave the area or make efforts for restoration of peace.

The elder said that residents of Kalakhel could go to Peshawar via Speena Thana but that route was very lengthy. The Adezai-Matani Road was shortest for them so majority of people preferred to come to Matani for buying daily use items, he said.

The deputy head of Adezai Qaumi Lashkar, Fazal Malik, when contacted, said that owing to suspension of Kalakel transport the people of Adezai were also facing serious problems as 50 per cent residents of the area were dependent on public transport vehicles of Kalakhel.

“Our people have already sold their vehicles owing to fear of blasts. Now suspension of Kalakhel transport has added to miseries of our people, particularly students, businessmen and government employees,” he said.

Mr Malik demanded of the government to take concrete steps to protect public transport vehicles as mostly poor people were travelling in them.

The officials of Matani police station also confirmed reports about suspension of Kalakhel transport, saying law enforcers were ready to protect passenger vehicles at the bus stand but they should also remain vigilant to note movement of Taliban.