Demanding a transfer: Traders take to the streets against Haripur AAC

Say he misbehaved with shopkeepers, imposed unjustified fines.

HARIPUR: Traders in Haripur protested on Tuesday against Additional Assistant Commissioner Irshad Khan for imposing “unnecessary heavy fines on small-scale shopkeepers”. The protesters threatened to observe a shutter-down strike if Irshad is not transferred from Haripur immediately.

The demonstration was led by Jewellers Association President Khanzeb Gul and Farhat Nawaz, former general secretary for All Traders Association. Traders blocked the road near Loharan Bazaar, suspending traffic for about half an hour. They were carrying placards inscribed with slogans against the AAC.



While addressing the protesters, Gul said the AAC removed small shops that were set up on stalls, extended sheds and under staircases in Loharan Bazaar. He did so in the name of encroachment drive, he said.

“Though the encroachment drive has widened the bazaar, it has adversely affected the shopkeepers who cooperated with the AAC on the issue,” said the Jewellers Association president. He added the AAC made the life of shopkeepers miserable since August.

“We are taxpayers and contribute hundreds of thousands of rupees to the exchequer monthly,” said Gul. “However, the AAC misbehaves with traders as if he is dealing with criminals.”

Farhat Nawaz, former ATA official, said the way the AAC was imposing heavy fines on traders was unjustified. “The AAC is inflicting financial loss on small-scale shopkeepers,” Nawaz said, adding even the minimum fine was worth Rs5,000. He said the fines carried no legal justification and “forced poor shopkeepers to shut down their business.”

Nawaz warned if the AAC was not transferred, the traders would expand their shutter-down strike to the entire district. He also accused elected office bearers of All Traders Association for taking the matter lightly.

Meanwhile, when approached for comments, the AAC said he imposed fines on shopkeepers selling CDs, jewellery, fruits and vegetables in the main bazaar near Circular Road for encroaching upon the road. “They were warned several times before the fines were imposed,” he added.

Irshad said the highest fine he has imposed was worth Rs100,000 and it was done in the public interest. “The money collected in fines went to the provincial exchequer and not my own pocket.” Irshad said he would continue taking action against violators “without any fear” unless he gets a different order from the government on the issue.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th,  2015.