PESHAWAR, Dec 17: The president of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ghulam Sarwar Mohmand, flayed the excise and taxation  department for harassing the local traders in the name of property tax.

Talking to a delegation of the Anjuman Tajiran, Jinnah Park, that called on him at his office, Mr Mohmand said that the excise department officials were intimidating traders who were already facing the overall economic crunch, a press release issued here  on Tuesday said.

He alleged that the officials were creating misunderstandings  between the provincial government and the traders. He termed it a well-hatched conspiracy, saying that he would soon hold a meeting with the Chief Minister, Akram Khan Durrani, and would take up the issue with him.