SWABI: People have complained about encroachments by shopkeepers and vendors on the roadsides and footpaths in the Swabi city bazaars, squeezing space for pedestrians and motorists with the district administration being the silent spectator.

They told Dawn that shopkeepers, vendors and vegetable sellers had occupied footpaths on both sides of the Swabi-Jehangira Road, forcing pedestrians to walk on the road, disrupting smooth flow of traffic and putting their lives in danger.

They said the situation was worst in front of the passport office and important markets along the Swabi-Maneri and Swabi-Mardan roads, near the general bus stand market and vegetable market.

“Wrong parking has also added to the woes of shoppers,” said Rashid Khan, a resident of Maneri Bala village. He said the pushcart vendors, who kept moving along the roads the whole day aggravated the situation. He added as there was only one parking lot in the whole city the drivers parked vehicles wherever they wished.

“Only a few people opt for parking lot as they have to pay some fee, and majority of motorists park their vehicles on the roadsides, disturbing flow of traffic on one hand and causing problems for shoppers on the other,” said Anwar Ali of Swabi city.

When contacted, an official of the district administration told Dawn that no one would be allowed to encroach upon roads and footpaths across the district.

ARRESTED: The police arrested two suspects wanted for murdering a worker of Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate.

DSP Topi tehsil Mohammad Shafiq Khan along with SHO Gadoon Estate police station Niaz Ali arrested them and also seized a pistol and a motorcycle from them.

DSP Shafiq said Mohammad Shahbaz of Beka village and Syed Karim of Bala Garhi area of Mardan confessed to have killed Zafar Abbas on July 30 after snatching his mobile phone.

Meanwhile, the police also arrested a man for killing a labourer two years go.

District police officer Haroon Rashid said Ahmad Mahmood, 20, a resident of Zaida village, was killed when he demanded his labour from the accused, Ishaq Khan.

He said a team led by Swabi DSP Jawad Khan and SHO Zaida police station Sub-Inspector Farooq Khan arrested the accused in a raid.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2023