CHARSADDA/UPPER DIR: A policeman was injured when a police party was attacked during a patrol in Chendro Dag Bazaar in Tangi tehsil here on Monday.

The police personnel were in the bazaar to ensure closure of the shops violating the lockdown.

The police registered FIR against the attackers namely Nasir Ali, Sher Ali, Sheraz, Imtiaz, and Riaz, all brothers, and started search for them.

SHO Masood Khan said when the policemen asked the accused persons not to instigate the shopkeepers into violating the lockdown they opened fire on the personnel, injuring one of them. The police also retaliated, but the accused managed to escape.

Meanwhile, former law minister Barrister Arshad Abdullah has demanded of the government to end the smart lockdown and allow business activities to resume.

Traders in Upper Dir take to streets against restrictions

Talking to media persons at his residence, he said the government should also waive off the utility bills for three months. He said the ongoing lockdown had made the people mentally ill. He said there was no justification of high prices of petroleum products after the rates plunged in the international market.

Meanwhile, hundreds of shopkeepers took to the streets in the Dir city on Monday to ask the government to allow them to open shops. They protested in front of the deputy commissioner’s office.

The merchants of footwear, garments, tailoring and others blocked the main road for hours. The traders promised to would follow the government’s guidelines aimed at containing Covid-19.

Later, a delegation of the protesters led by Dir Bazaar Trade Union president Khalid Roghani met with deputy commissioner Khalid Iqbal Khattak.

After the meeting, Mr Roghani demanded of Chief Minister Mahmood Khan to allow their businesses to reopen in Ramazan so they could earn a living for their families. He threatened to stage protest demonstrations if their demand was not met.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2020