PESHAWAR, Sept 29: The business community here announced to observe three-day mourning and keep their businesses shut for a day in protest against the killing of shopkeepers and other innocent people in a car bomb blast at Qissa Khwani Bazaar on Sunday.

“We will observe complete strike on Monday and hold a joint meeting of all factions of traders to devise a fresh strategy. We have repeatedly asked the government to install explosive detectors at the entry points of all main bazaars, but to no avail,” said Haji Haleem Jan and Malik Mehr Ilahi, central leaders of Anjuman-i-Tajiran, Peshawar, while talking to media persons at the site of the blast.

Condemning the car bomb blast, Haji Haleem observed that police had never paid attention to suggestions of traders, saying that it was complete failure of the government and security agencies to protect the lives and properties of people in the provincial metropolis.

He said that the government was forcing the traders to pay taxes and increased rent of shops, but it did not pay heed to their demands at least to make security arrangements at bazaars, markets and other commercial hubs in Peshawar.

The powerful car bomb ripped through the busy Qissa Khawani Bazaar, leaving over 30 shops, three plazas and markets damaged. According to hospital sources, they had received over 100 injured, while at least 38 were confirmed dead till the filing of this report.

Haji Haleem said that commercial activities had slowed down after the church attack on Sunday last, while the fresh high intensity blast had further affected the traders.

“We have requested the officials several times to make proper security arrangements for bazaars and shopping centres after the coordinated terrorist attacks in parts of the provincial metropolis, but they didn’t pay heed.

“We demand provision of foolproof security to our businesses, and bazaars,” said a trader whose shops were burnt to ashes. He alleged that the government was not seen anywhere and terrorists had been operating at will to carry out their heinous activities.

The traders’ leader said that they had announced to observe three-day mourning across the province, and keep their businesses shut on Monday (today). He added the special fateha and Quran Khawani would also be held for the departed souls. He said that the traders would also hold a meeting to devise a future line of action for prevention of such attacks.

He also asked the government to pay compensation to the traders or their families for the human and property losses.

Another leader of Peshawar traders Haji Sharafat Ali Mubarak also denounced the attack and pointed out that there was no coordination between the police and security agencies due to which terrorist acts were taking place.

He alleged that the provincial government looked helpless before terrorists, as three bomb blasts had occurred in Peshawar over past one week, but no preventive measures were taken. He said that despite rumours about entry of an explosive-laden vehicle in Peshawar city, the police failed to prevent the attack.

“The government should make foolproof security arrangements for the bazaars, commercial markets and other business streets in city and Saddar,” Mr Mubarak said and asked the government to announce special compensation package for the blast victims.