LAKKI MARWAT: Abduction of a trader sparked protest in Bannu as a large member of shopkeepers as well as political and social activists closed Bannu-DI Khan road to vehicular traffic on Thursday.

Protesters said that unidentified armed men kidnapped Haji Saeed Khan, a fruit and vegetable merchant, near Narey Bridge at gunpoint when he was on his way to market. The abducted trader was released by kidnappers late at night.

However, the news about his kidnapping earlier in the day spread like a jungle fire in the area and a large number of traders closed their shops and held a protest demonstration. They burnt old tyres and kept the busy road closed to all kinds of traffic.

Speaking on the occasion, Malik Ashoor Durrani, Pir Sahib Zaman, Jamshed Khan, Maulana Tayyab Shah Bukhari, Imran Khan, Mureed Hayat, Mamaizullah, Pir Mohammad Rehman, Abdul Rauf and others condemned the incident.

ANP leader Baz Mohammad Khan also joined the agitation to express solidarity with the protesting shopkeepers. “The government should announce its helplessness regarding provision of protection to people so that they could take security measures on their own,” he said.

Officials of district administration and police held talks with protesters and convinced them to reopen the road to traffic.

According to late night developments, the kidnappers freed the abducted trader, who reached his home safely.

Meanwhile, a man was killed over a money dispute in Tajazai area of Lakki Marwat district on Thursday.

Police said that Noor Nawaz, a resident of Goraka Syedkhel, was seriously injured when Ismail and Zubair attacked him on Indus Highway near Eidgah. He was shifted to district headquarters hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

Separately, a man identified as Sheikh Baber Amin was injured in an armed attack by unidentified motorcyclists in Jabukhel area on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, police claimed to have arrested a proclaimed offender in injured condition after exchange of fire in Tajori area of Lakki Marwat district on Wednesday night. The arrested man was identified as Waliullah.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2024