Peshawar, the city of wilting flowers

Parents fear for the safety of their children, and their own.

PESHAWAR: The city once famous for flowers fell completely silent following the sixth bombing of the week in the provincial capital on Wednesday. There was an air of uncertainty and a sense of insecurity among the residents of Peshawar.

Wednesday’s attack claimed 16 lives, including women, children, a DSP, three constables and Afghan refugees, while another 42 sustained injuries, five of whom are still in critical condition. Walking through the streets of the city, people were quiet and afraid of going to their workplaces. Sadly, there seems to be no way out.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Muhammad Irshad Khan, a businessman at Khyber Bazaar said even though blasts have become a “routine activity” in the city, and people have grown accustomed to these militant attacks, there were fewer shoppers out and about than usual.

He said the worsening situation in the provincial capital had paralyzed the business sector, saying people rarely step out of their homes, even to buy daily-use commodities.

Many shops in different markets in Peshawar remained shut. The others that did open, opened late in the day.

On Tuesday, the pensioner queues outside bank windows were much smaller than usual.

“I’m really surprised to see only 67 people standing in the queue to collect their pensions as more than two hundred people always stand here from the first till the tenth of every month,” said Naimatullah Khan, a retired police constable. The pensioners continued to stay away from the banks on Wednesday.

The situation was not much different elsewhere. A significantly lower number of passengers were seen on buses plying from Saddar to Haji Camp Bus Stand. Naeemullah, a bus driver and owner, said that only half the usual number of people boarded his bus today.

“We are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, sky-rocketing petroleum prices and fewer passengers have left us with no way out,” he said, adding that if the situation continued, he would sell the bus and leave for Saudi Arabia to earn a living.

Naeemullah said he owned the bus but could not manage to feed his family. He added that he was also planning to get a visa for his brother to send him abroad.

“The government has been trying its best to provide security to city residents, however, I am puzzled by the statements of ministers always saying the attacks are in retaliation to the operations launched against the militants,” he said. “I pray for the day these operations end and peace can come back to the city of flowers.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3^rd, 2011.