In protest: Traders to close all markets in Bajaur

Inayat Kalay Bazaar was shut down after killing of Frontier Corps official

KHAR:

Traders in Bajaur Agency have announced their decision to close all markets in the agency to protest the closure of Inayat Kalay Bazaar that has not opened since 18 days.

“The protest will be held on Sunday (today) to demonstrate against the closure of the bazaar that was shifted after unidentified persons killed a Frontier Corps personnel,” Bajaur Political Alliance President Sher Bahadar said at a news conference at the agency headquarters, Khar, on Saturday.

He added, “We condemn the killing of the FC man and have also tried to placate the officials concerned, but the political administration did not hear our reservations and closed Inayat Kalay Bazaar, which is the second largest market of the agency, after Khar Bazaar.”

According to Bahadar, they were not allowed to open their shops.

“We are patriotic citizens of the state,” he said. “But the administration is treating us like we are traitors or slaves.”

Bahadar said even Khar Bazaar did not have a power supply for a long time. He said their motorcycles were not allowed in Bajaur and the non-custom paid vehicles were also banned in the agency.

Unmet, unheard

Bahadar said they have held several meetings with the political administration, but their reservations have not been addressed and Inayat Kalay Bazaar has remained closed.

Since the bazaar has hundreds of shops, Bahadar was also voiced concerns that the fruits and vegetables were rotting and traders who have brought items from Punjab and K-P could not afford to incur debt.

“It is the economic death of the tribesmen to close their shops,” he added.

Unfair burden

Speaking at the news conference, traders association president, Haji Lali Shah, urged transporters to join the protest and asked them to stop transport on the day of the protest to show solidarity with the traders.

MNA Shahabuddin Khan from Bajaur has also raised the issue in the Parliament and said a heavy fine was imposed by the political administration on traders under the Frontier Crimes Regulation after the killing of the FC personnel. As a result, traders will find it difficult to pay it. Although the issue was raised in the Parliament, the administration was not ready to open the market.

Inayat Kalay Bazaar is situated close to the Pak-Afghan border in Mamond tehsil.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2016.