CHARSADDA: The local people blocked the main Peshawar road to traffic in protest against shifting of old general bus stand from Shabqadar Bazaar.

The passengers faced difficulties owing to blockade of road. Students, transporters, traders, political activists and civil society members participated in the protest. They demanded of the government to cancel the decision of shifting the bus stand.

The tehsil municipal administration had shifted the bus terminal some five-kilometre away from Shabqadar Bazaar on the directives of provincial government in 2019.

The transporters challenged the decision in the court. However, the district administration on the request of TMA authorities on February 2, 2022, sealed the old bus stand and asked the transporters to shift to the new one on Peshawar road.

The transporters defied the directives of the administration and parked their vehicle at the old bus stand in protest.

The passengers faced hardships in reaching their destinations owing to the protest. The road remained blocked for five hours.

The protesters were addressed by QWP leader Haji Gul Yousaf, JUI-F’s Haji Zaffar Ali Khan, Sanaullah Danish, ANP’s Amajad Khan Katozai, JI’s Qari Shafiullah, PML-N’s Rehmat Ali Mohmand, traders’ representative Shabir Ahmed and others.

The protesters reopened the road after holding talks with the officials.

DIALOGUE: Speakers at a dialogue here stressed the need for promoting tolerance and harmony in the society.

The community dialogue was organised by Aawaz II programme at a local church to commemorate ‘World Interfaith Harmony Week 2022’.

Religious leaders and people from different walks of life attended the session that was chaired by Ruqia Masih. She said that every faith promoted peaceful coexistence.

Mufti Suleman said on the occasion that Islam promoted peace and gave worship rights to all minorities.

Pastor Nadeem Ayaz said that there was an association among followers of various religious beliefs at individual and institutional level.

Ismail Khan said that interfaith harmony was must for prevalence of peace and stability in a society. “Peaceful coexistence among people of different views can pave the way for prosperity and development,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 9th, 2022