TIMERGARA: The traders of Chakdara area on Saturday observed a complete shutter down strike against the local administration and announced that they would hold a protest for two hours daily until the replacement of Adenzai area’s assistant commissioner.

On the call of their body, the traders closed businesses and staged a rally on Chakdara- Timergara Road.

Members of the Adenzai Qaumi Jirga and traders’ body president Khwaja Faizul Ghafoor, Wasil Khan of the ANP, Maulana Gul Rahim of the JUI-F and Sultanat Yar of the Jamaat-i-Islami addressed the rally.

They complained that five chicken sellers were sent to jail by assistant commissioner Mohammad Suhaib, while the main market’s traders were manhandled by the administration for not closing their businesses.

The speakers said shop owners had secured from Rs500,000 to Rs1 million from traders in advance, while the administration wanted to shift them to Mela Ground.

Announce daily protest until Adenzai AC removed

They said meat and chicken sellers were unwilling to relocate their businesses.

The speakers demanded of the government to take notice of the matter, ensure the immediate release shopkeepers, and replace the Adenzai AC.

They warned that if their demands weren’t met, the traders would hold a protest for two hours daily.

Meanwhile, the Khall Petrol Dealers’ Association demanded of the local administration to withdraw taxes on filling stations. The demand was made during a meeting in Khall with Malik Anwar Zeb in the chair.

The petrol dealers attended the meeting.

The participants complained that the Khall administration had imposed heavy taxes on them though Malakand division was a tax-free zone.

They said the region was affected by militancy, military operation and flash floods and therefore, the government should facilitate the residents, especially traders, instead of imposing taxes on them.

The participants warned that they would close filling stations if taxes were not withdrawn.

TOURIST SPOTS: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf activists from Samarbagh area on Saturday demanded of the government to provide basic facilities to scenic spots in the district and include them in the tourism development plan.

PTI leaders Sarbuland Khan, Alamgir Khan, Salim Khan, Ubaidur Rehman and others said Lower Dir had many scenic spots like Laram Top in Adenzai, Korshum Top in Maidan, Shahi and Binshahi in Samarbagh and Kamrani Top in Timergara but they lacked facilities for tourists.

They demanded of the government to provide funds for the development of tourist spots in Lower Dir district to attract visitors from within the country and abroad.

Published in Dawn, June 23rd, 2019