PESHAWAR, June 20: The political administration of Frontier Region of Kohat has sealed the main market of computer accessories in the city, official sources and traders told Dawn on Monday. The political authorities also sealed other business outlets in Peshawar owned by tribesmen of Dara Adamkhel as a punishment under the collective responsibility clause of the Frontier Crime Regulation, the sources added.
The Khasadar Force, during an operation against anti-social elements and criminals in Dara Adamkhel, arrested 80 persons under 40-FCR and impounded 20 vehicles. All the arrested tribesmen were sent to the Central Jail in Peshawar, they said.
A team of political administration headed by tehsildar of Dara Adamkhel came to Peshawar and with the help of city police, sealed Gul Haji Plaza on the University Road, several petrol pumps, Rehman Medicine market and offices in Namak Mandi and a pharmacy shop near Khyber Teaching Hospital on Sunday night, the sources added.
The multi-storey Gul Haji Plaza, having about 400 shops, were owned by three brothers - former MNA Haji Baz Gul, Majeed Gul and former senator Haji Gul, all belonging to Zarghonkhel sub-tribe of Afridi of Dara Adamkhel, the semi-autonomous Frontier Region of Kohat.
The political administration of Dara Adamkhel had accused Zarghonkhel sub-tribe of Afridi of harbouring the alleged kidnappers of two retired employees of the Pakistan Tobacco Company, who were later killed after their refusal to pay ransom.
The businessmen of Gul Haji Plaza came to the market on Monday morning but the big contingent of police did not allow them to enter the building, eyewitnesses and traders said.
The businessmen later blocked the University Road in protest. They demanded that the government re-open the building as they had nothing to do with the unlawful activities of the tribesmen of Dara Adamkhel, said Mohammad Daud, who runs computer shop at the plaza.
Mahabat Khan and Waheed Ullah, the former employees of Pakistan Tobacco Company, were kidnapped from their village Adizai in Matani area on the night of May 21, allegedly by the criminals of Dara Adamkhel. The kidnappers had demanded Rs1.6 million each for the release of the two.
However, the victims’ family and village elders refused to pay the ransom. They met NWFP Governor Khalil-ur-Rehman for seeking his help to get the two released. Later the abductor killed both of them and threw their bodies on the night between June 13 and June 14 near their village.
Senior Superintendent of Police (operation) Saeed Khan Wazir told Dawn that the Gul Haji Plaza would be opened soon as the business community was not responsible for the crime committed by the Dara Adamkhel tribesmen.
However, he added, the businessmen would pay rents to the district police officer (DPO) Kohat, who was responsible to run the Dara Adamkhel administration affairs.
“This is totally unjustified to seal the tribesmen’s business in the city,” said Haji Gul, the former senator and one of the owners of the multi-storey building.