KHAR: Filling stations reopened in Bajaur tribal district on Wednesday after remaining closed for four days in protest against arrest of scores of their owners and imposition of heavy fines on them for overcharging customers.

Talking to this scribe, All Bajaur Petroleum Association president Sulman Khan confirmed that they had ended their anti-administration strike after a meeting held late on Tuesday. He said that they had reopened all filling stations in line with the request of a delegation of leaders of trade associations and political parties, led by MPA Anwar Zeb Khan who first met with them and then the officials of district administration on Tuesday evening.

Mr Sulman said the delegation assured them that it would convince the district administration to release their colleagues and withdraw the fines imposed on owners of filling stations.

Talking to this correspondent, a senior official said that the owners ended their strike after talks between a delegation of traders and political activists with deputy commissioner Usman Mehsud, which were held at the latter’s office.

He said that the delegation urged the administration to release the owners of filling stations. The officials agreed to release the owners after the delegation assured them that owners of filling stations would follow the government rates and would not indulge in overcharging. The meeting also decided to form a committee to decide how much fines should be imposed on the owners.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2019