SWABI: Roadside vendors on Wednesday blocked the Swabi-Mardan Road to protest district administration’s crackdown on them.

The officials on Tuesday prevented the vendors from selling vegetables and other goods along the Swabi-Maneri and Swabi-Mardan roads.

The administration had warned the vendors of action if they occupied the roadsides as it caused traffic congestion.

Earlier, a protest call was given in the first week of Ramazan by Anjuman-i-Dokandran and a complete shutdown was observed against the district administration for cracking down on the vendors.

When contacted, traders’ association president told Dawn that poor vendors should be allowed to earn a living during the fasting month. He said targeting the vendors would backfire.

Later, the traffic police officials persuaded the vendors to reopen the road.

Meanwhile, a teenage boy was killed when a truck hit the motorcycle he was riding on Swabi-Mardan Road on Wednesday. He was seriously injured and taken to hospital, where he succumbed. The victim, 18, was identified as Gohar Hayat.

The police registered an FIR.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2020