PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday disposed of a petition against the sealing of a major business centre in Peshawar’s cantonment areaafter learning about its de-sealing by the administration.

A bench consisting of Justice Roohul Amin Khan and Justice Wiqar Ahmad was informed by assistant commissioner Dr Ahtesham Khan and additional assistant commissioner Shahab Khan that the Deans Trade Centre was sealed by the local union to prevent the possible untoward incident following the murder of two tenants on July 31.

They said that the centre had been de-sealed and day-to-day business was taking place there.

The bench observed that the Constitution guaranteed the freedom of trade and business and it couldn’t be curtailed.

Observes Constitution guarantees freedom of trade that can’t be curtailed

The petition was filed by around 30 tenants in the centre requesting the court to order de-sealing of the centre as they had been facing irreparable loss.

Advocate Yasir Khattak appeared for the petitioner and said two people, including Khairullah and Inayatullah, were killed in one of the centre’s shops on July 31 over a power bill dispute between them and the centre’s management.

He said that an FIR was registered of the incident at the West Cantonment police station under different provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Mr Khattak said that suspects were arrested, while some surrendered to the police.

He contended that instead of sealing the shop, where the double murder occurred, the administration and police sealed the entire centre ‘without justification’ suspending all sorts of business activities.

The lawyer said that the petitioners along with many shop owners and tenants from the centre requested the administration to re-open the centre saying they suffered huge losses due to the closure of their businesses.

He added that the administration turned a deaf ear to their pleas and didn’t de-seal the centre.

Mr Khattak argued that the police had already collected all evidence, including the footage of CCTV cameras from the crime scene, but even then, they didn’t de-seal the centre.

He claimed that the respondents, including the deputy commissioner, had not issued any written order for the sealing of the entire centre.

The counsel that the centre was the main business hub in the area and his clients along with others did business there to earn a livelihood.

The respondents in the petition were the provincial government through its chief secretary and Peshawar’s capital city police officer, commissioner and deputy commissioner.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2021