CHASADDA: Traders observed a complete shutdown in Charsadda bazaar and rallied against what they called illegal demolition of their shops and other structures by the district administration in the garb of anti-encroachment drive.

They also set up a protest camp at Farooq Azam Chowk against what they called illegal destruction of dozens of shops on Charsadda-Nowshera Road by the district administration. The shutdown was held on the call of the Tajir Ittehad and Muttahida Shopkeepers Association. The protest camp was attended by political parties’ leaders, lawmakers and members of civil society.

The action committee of the trade organisations announced that the protest would continue till acceptance of their demands. The committee members said that they would also move the dispute resolution committee about the matter, and would also set up a legal body to fight the case in court.

It was also decided that black flags would be hoisted atop shops, and a long march would be organised towards Peshawar to besiege the Chief Minster House there.

MNA Maulana Gohar Shah, MPAs Fazal Shakoor Khan, Arshad Khan Umarzai, JUI-F district emir Maulana Mohammad Hashim Khan, JI district emir Misbahullah, QWP leader Faqir Hussain Lala, ANP-W’s Falak Niaz Khan, ANP’s Haji Qasim Ali, Tajir Ittahad president Maulana Salahuddin Shakir, general secretary Iftikhar Hussain Saraf, Muttahida Shopkeepers Association president Hakeemullah Fauji, general secretary Haji Sadiqullah, mobile association president Waheedulah Durani, and others attended the protest camp.

The speakers termed the anti-encroachment drive as illegal, adding the district administration didn’t even wait for the findings of a commission tasked with checking encroachments in the district.

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2015

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