In mourning: Traders observe shutter-down strike

Demand monetary compensation for losses, reconstruction of damaged shops.

PESHAWAR: Traders in the city observed a shutter-down strike on Monday in protest over the Qissa Khwani Bazaar blast.

They held a walk and passed through different markets holding banners and chanting slogans against the government’s failure to curb terror attacks and restore peace. Innocent people have been dying and their businesses have been greatly affected by the precarious law and order situation, said protesters.



“Provide us peace or resign from the government,” said Shaukat Ali Khan, the general secretary of the Provincial Traders Association. Both provincial and federal governments were voted to office on the pretense of bringing peace to the region, and if they cannot make good on their promises, “officials should leave the government,” asserted Khan.

“We also have our own weapons; if they (the government) cannot protect us from terrorists and extortionists, we will arm ourselves and protect our own lands,” argued Khan. He claimed traders pay hefty taxes, but authorities could not even provide them security.

Business owners demanded full compensation for victims of the terror attack on the historic bazaar and also for the reconstruction of their damaged shops.

“More than 50 shops have been gutted and some of them reduced to ashes. The provincial government should announce compensation for traders within one week. Otherwise, we will engage in civil disobedience,” threatened Khan.

He said law enforcement agencies had talked about installing closed circuit cameras (CCTV), but claimed surveillance alone will not guarantee peace. Instead, he demanded proper policing and law enforcement. “This can help in arresting militants.”

Earlier in the morning, announcements were made through loudspeakers of mosques asking traders to close their shops and suspend all business activities to participate in the shutter-down strike. They were threatened with ‘social boycott’ by the traders union if they failed to comply.

Announcements for a mandatory Fateha for the blast victims were also made and all shopkeepers were expected to participate.

Following this, traders duly complied and shops were shut down in Khyber Bazaar, Shuba Bazaar, Meena Bazaar, Kochi Bazaar, Pipal Mandi, Chowk-e-Yadgar and other markets.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2013.