HARIPUR: The traders took to the streets here on Sunday against the change in the market closure days.

Led by president Sirafa Association Haripur Haji Farhat Nawaz, the traders marched through the main bazaar.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Nawaz said the traders were observing ban on commercial activity on Fridays and Saturdays, but the district administration had now decided to keep the markets closed on Saturdays and Sundays, which was not acceptable to them.

He said the traders were already facing economic hardships, and the fresh decision would ruin their businesses completely.

Mr Nawaz threatened to continue the protest if the district administration forced them to close shops on Sunday.

The protest was triggered when additional assistant commissioner Shakil Akbar along with police started closing shops in the bazaars on Sunday.

Mr Akbar said the government had decided to keep the business activities suspended on Saturdays and Sundays instead of Fridays and Saturdays. He, however, assured the shopkeepers that their concerns would be taken up with the deputy commissioner.

MAN KILLS WIFE: A man killed his wife in Panjkatha area of Khanpur on Saturday night.

The police said the victim, wife of Mumtaz Shah, had been living with her parents in Bhera village after developing differences with her spouse three years ago. She had also filed complaints with the police, accusing her husband of torturing him.

The police said after failing to convince his estranged wife to get back home, Mumtaz shot her dead near her parent’s house.

Separately, Hattar police said a worker was killed when a pile of steel bars fell over him from a lifter in a steel factory in the Hattar Industrial Zone on Saturday evening. They identified the victim as Ahmed Zaman, 35, a resident of Mardan.

Also, a man was killed and his son was injured critically when they were fired upon in Khalabat Township on Saturday evening.

The police said Ali Aksar succumbed to injuries at the trauma centre, while his son, Amir Ali, admitted for treatment.

The police said injured Amir had allegedly sent text messages on the mobile phone of a daughter of the attacker, Mohammad Fiaz, prompting him to take revenge for the offence.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2021