PESHAWAR, Feb 8: One trader was killed and three others sustained injuries when two groups of shopkeepers opened fire on each other at Shaheen Bazaar here on Wednesday, police said.

They said that the traders’ leaders were busy negotiating a dispute between the groups, one led by Sami Khan and the other by Abbas Khan, when some participants opened fire. As a result, four traders, including Amir Alam, Mohammad Nabi, Niaz Mohammad and Haji Yaqoob, were injured.

They were taken to Lady Reading Hospital in precarious condition where Haji Yaqoob succumbed to his wounds. The firing led to severe panic in the bazaar.

An official of Yakatoot police station said that an FIR had been registered against Sami Khan, Asif Khan, Abbas Khan and Hassan Khan, who escaped from the scene after the clash.

Following the incident, the bazaar was closed and traders came out from their shops to condemn the incident. They also shouted slogans against those who opened fire.

13 ARRESTED: The Federal Investigation Agency, commercial banking circle, has registered 10 cases and arrested 13 accused for illegal transaction of foreign currencies.

According to the FIA assistant director, Shaukat Khan, the agency had initiated a drive against those dealing in hawala/hundi, as it was illegal and damaging the country’s economy.

He said that the action had been initiated on the directives of interior ministry and during past few days currency worth about Rs28.8 million had been recovered. The foreign currency recovered so far include 49,050 US dollars, 15,035 pounds, 23,565 Euros, 900 Australian dollars, 85,990 Saudi riyals, 253,000 Afghani and 15,230 UAE dirham.

Mr Khan said that 84 accounts belonging to the accused in different banks had also been frozen.