KOHAT: Angry traders blocked the main bazaar road in protest against what they called insulting behaviour of an official who seized their computerised national identity cards over encroachments here on Thursday.

The protesters blocked the main road during peak business hours from 11.30am to 1.30pm unless called by the said official for returning the CNICs for opening of the bazaar.

Speaking on the occasion, All Businessmen Alliance president Ameer Khan Afridi said the businessmen should be respected and not treated like criminals. He said they were abiding the agreement of three feet encroachment on ground and four feet shed. He said that injustice forced them to take out protest and block the bazaar.

He said the administration had violated the agreement reached with them years ago which allowed them some space in front of their shops.

Ameer Khan said if the administration wanted them to be vaccinated against Covid-19 they should be informed in advance.

The protesters chanted slogans to stop abuse of the businessmen on the pretext of encroachments and return their CNICs.

Later, the leaders of business community were called to the city police station for returning their CNICs to open the bazaar. The magistrate called the SHO to return their CNICs and a joint meeting was summoned at the police station on Saturday to talk out the issue.

FUNDS FOR KOHAT: MPA Ziaullah Bangash has said that Kohat will get huge funds from the provincial health budget for the completion of under-construction medical and dental colleges and equipping KDA teaching hospital with all facilities this year.

In addition, Rs60 million has been sanctioned for the expansion of busy artery from Kutchery Chowk to PAF Chowk besides improvement of roads in all the three constituencies.

A statement issued from his office on Thursday said the MPA called on Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Thursday and discussed with him the budget allocations and proposed projects in Kohat.

The MPA said that divisional sports complex would also be completed in the current year while a huge grant had been approved for the construction of Liaquat Memorial Hospital.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2021