PESHAWAR, Aug 23: The city’s traders on Wednesday threatened to go on strike against the attitude of the NWFP food minister if the restaurant employees arrested during a raid on the University Road on Tuesday were not released.

Tajir Ittehad general secretary Khalid Ayub alleged at a press conference here that Food Minister Fazal Rabbani with a 50-member team of his department, police officials and media, raided several popular restaurants on the University Road on Tuesday and ordered arrest of their employees.

He said butchers could not slaughter animals on meatless days but restaurants could store meat in freezers. They said the minister had found meat in freezers during the raid.

Leaders of local traders alleged that the minister had harassed hoteliers and launched a campaign against them.

They said the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, particularly the Jamaat-i-Islami, had launched its election campaign by initiating the so-called drive against traders.

They said Mr Rabbani, who also held the portfolio of the excise department, had failed to arrest vehicle snatchers during the past four years.

They said the traders would not pay representatives of excise officials to settle the issue.