MURREE: A large number of traders, hoteliers and hotel employees on Saturday blocked traffic at Jhika Gali in protest against the traffic police for creating problems for them.

However, on the assurance of the assistant commissioner Murree and the political assistant to federal petroleum minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the protesters opened the road.

After some time, when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif passed from Jhika Gali, the protesters tried to stop his convoy. Later, the representatives of the protesting traders reached the prime minister’s residence at Kashmir Point but were not allowed to meet him. The security officials of the prime minister assured the traders that their grievances would be conveyed to Mr Sharif.

It may be noted that an advertisement published in newspapers by Chief Traffic Police Officer Rawalpindi Khuram Janbaz stated that roads to Murree would be closed from 6pm to 6am on August 13 and 14. The traffic police also announced that only those tourists would be allowed to enter Murree even during the daytime who would produce booking of hotels or any other proof of residence in the town.

The traders’ representatives said due to the police move only 25 per cent tourists could enter the resort town compared to the previous years. The traders termed the traffic police action their “economic murder.”

Addressing the protesting traders, Mazhar Abbasi, general secretary Citizen Forum, criticised the PML-N government and said the trading season in Murree had been confined to just 60 to 70 days.

Yasir Abbasi, general secretary Hotel Association, Raja Tufail, president Anjuman Tajran, Akmal Nawaz, general secretary Anjaman Tajraan Murree, Hafiz Javed Abbasi, Haji Khaleel Raja and other traders’ representatives appealed to the prime minister and Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif to take action against the traffic police for hindering their businesses.

When contacted, Khuram Janbaz, the chief traffic police officer, said the advertisement in the newspapers was published every year keeping in consideration the problems faced by tourists.

He said the advertisement also carried the names of the DCO Rawalpindi and the director general public relations.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2015

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