Indirect victims: ‘We want peace instead of compensation’

Traders association announces strike today, more than 50 shops razed to the ground .

PESHAWAR:

For many shopkeepers and traders at Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Sunday was the last day for business. Placards have been placed outside their shops now with funeral timings and venues. 

“Watchmaker and optical businessman Tayab Ahmad’s funeral prayer will be offered at 9pm,” said one notice placed on an electric pole.

Next to Ahmad’s shop is Inamullah Durrani’s.  Durrani, the owner of New Peshawari Ice Cream, said the caretaker of his shop Habibur Rehman was among the deceased and a manager and five workers were wounded.

More than 50 shops in the market were razed to the ground in the fire that erupted after the blast.  Shops and buildings situated on both sides of the 600-metre-long bazaar were damaged, including the mosque adjacent to Khan Raziq police station.

“Rehman had been taking care of my shop for the past decade and was my most trustworthy colleague,” said Durrani.

Qadeemi Kulfi, owned by Durrani’s brother, was also among the businesses devastated in the explosion.

Durrani said he was near the blast site when the explosion occurred.  When he reached the shop, a vehicle parked outside was on fire and people around were screaming for help. “Some people took the injured to the hospital in their cars; others carried them in their arms.”

According to Qissa Khwani Bazaar Traders’ Association President Haji Aleem Khan more than 50 shops and 14 vehicles were destroyed. Khan, while talking to The Express Tribune, said Qazi Shopping Centre, a three-storey plaza with nearly 30 shops, was among the buildings destroyed.

Traders of the market have announced a shutter-down strike on Monday in solidarity with the loss of their colleagues and to record their protest against the attack.

“Only governor rule should be able to restore peace in the province,” said shopkeeper Saeed Khan as people around him chanted slogans against the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government.

“Blasts have been haunting this bazaar for the past 30 years now and businessmen yearn for peace more than any compensation,” said the general secretary of the association Salahuddin.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2013.