PESHAWAR, Sept 22: Owners of private properties and technical staff of various government departments on Saturday started repair work at their offices and shops damaged by unruly mobs during protests against anti-Islam film here the previous day.
Scores of shops, banks, cinemas and gas and electricity metres besides other public and private properties were damaged by violent protesters, but it was talk of the town on Saturday whether those responsible for the damage would be brought to justice.
The people, who got information about damage to their properties, reached late in the evening at least to secure the remaining items and start repair work.
During a visit to parts of Saddar Bazaar it was observed that shopkeepers had been pointing to spots hit by stones and bullets, collecting smashed windowpanes and expressing sympathies with those who suffered losses.
Media persons sitting inside Peshawar Press Club were lucky enough that protesters could not reach them though they had made several attempts. However, they managed to take away two closed circuit television cameras and smashed the big windowpane on its front.
Chacha Younus Park located along the building of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry was perhaps the worst affected as most of its swings and other items meant for children were burnt down or taken away.
Though people have suffered huge losses, nobody is in position to lodge FIR against anyone because they don’t know who were involved in the loot and plunder. They avoided nominating anyone, but bitterly criticised the political parties for giving the strike call.
The residents said that the government was equally responsible for ransacking of pubic and private properties. Majority of people also criticised the police for their failure to restrict movement of protesters in their respective jurisdictions.
“The government announced public holiday, but it did not provide leadership to people or took steps to control mobs,” Sharafat Ali Mubarak, president of Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajiran, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, told Dawn.
Mr Mubarak said that a shutter down strike call was given by traders and they did not take out procession, while the government tried to take advantage of the call and announced the public holiday.
“I think the decision of announcing a public holiday was wrong as people were given a chance to come on to streets,” he said and added that the government should compensate the traders.
The government, he said, protected the US consulate, but failed to protect traders and left them at the mercy of looters and now it was responsibility of the rulers to pay roughly Rs80 million as compensation to them for their losses. The traders’ leader flayed political parties for leaving their workers uncontrolled who played havoc with public and private properties and sensitive installations.
Jamaat-i-Islami central leader Sirajul Haq said that his party had nothing to do with ransacking and burning of public properties, adding that the JI had given a call for procession after Friday prayers while the ugly incidents took place in the morning. He held the provincial government responsible for the entire episode and killing of people.
All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Federation vice-president Ashraf Khalil said that police had arrested Karwan Tanzeem’s president Khalid Ayub and his brother Tariq. “If the two were not released within 48 hours the transporters will park their vehicles outside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Monday,” he warned.
Meanwhile, police officials avoided giving details of cases registered against rioters and those arrested. An official pleading anonymity said that FIRs must remain sealed to avoid public wrath.
By Ali Hazrat Bacha