SWABI: The Topi tehsil government will shift the weekly bazaar to the Topi bypass to ease people’s rush and ensure improved security to the government offices in the city. However, the family of PML-N MPA Shiraz Khan, which had contracted the bazaar from the TMA, has opposed the decision, terming it anti-people, sources told Dawn here on Monday.

This was the first major decision of the newly established tehsil council dominated by PTI councillors.

Sources quoted Tehsil Nazim Sohail Yousafzai as saying that holding of weekly bazaar in the city attracted large number of people, which caused great rush, hindering flow of people and vehicular traffic.

The decision had been made in the best interest of the public, the sources said, adding the bazaar would now be held at Topi bypass. They said the decision was also necessitated due to security reasons as offices of the assistant commissioner, TMA, DSP, tehsil nazim and courts were located there.

When contacted, PML-N leaders told Dawn the decision would harm the interest of the people as the fair had been held in the area for decades.

PROTEST PLAN: The sacked workers of a multinational tobacco company on Monday finalised their protest programme to press the firm’s management to reinstate them.

Ibrarullah, president of Mehnat Kash Union (MKU), who was released from Dera Ismail Khan prison on Saturday, told media persons here that protest demonstrations would be organised outside press clubs of every district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to highlight their misery.

The firm fired 141 workers on Nov 21, last year.

Flanked by other leaders of MKU, Mr Ibrarullah said they would also stage a protest in front of the Peshawar Press Club on Jan 15. Besides, we will hold talks with the leaders of political parties to apprise them about the unjust expulsion of the poor workers, he said, adding a meeting would be held with the Awami National Party provincial president in Mardan today (Tuesday).

In reply to a question, he said the protest drive would continue till reinstatement of the sacked workers.

Published in Dawn, January 12th, 2016