Shutter-down strike: Traders block GT Road to protest target killing of fruit merchant

Police officials say Haji Kabul was being extorted by militants.

PESHAWAR: Traders blocked GT Road for two hours and shutdown fruit and vegetable markets on Monday to protest the killing of a well-known fruit merchant. 

Haji Lal Muhammad, known by most as Haji Kabul Khan, was shot dead Sunday night by unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle outside his house in Nishtarabad.

Demonstrators, led by Malik Sohni, the head of All-Pakistan Agriculture Producers Trade Federation, blocked GT Road and placed Kabul’s coffin on the thoroughfare. They chanted slogans against the provincial government for failing to provide them security.

The trade federation has announced three days of mourning and a shutter-down strike. Monday’s shutdown resulted in the suspension of fruit and vegetable supplies to markets in the city.

“We are paying a large amount of tax, but have no protection from the state while we conduct business,” said Sohni, accusing the government of “completely failing to ensure law and order in the province.”

Protesters marched from the fruit market in Chamkani to Arbab Sikandar Khalil flyover. They also tried to head towards the Governor House, but were stopped by the police. The assailants will be put behind bars soon, officials said the trader.

After two hours, roads were cleared by the police, but an hour later, protesters returned, creating traffic problems.

Traders Union President Haji Haleem Khan requested the chief justice of the Supreme Court to take notice of killings and lawlessness in the region.

Traders blamed the police and the government for failing to protect the life and property of the business community, and alleged “not a single case of extortion had been solved in the past few years.”

Target killing

Haji Kabul was gunned down by unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle in Nishtarabad. He had left his office and was going home on Sunday night when assailants wearing helmets opened fire at him.

Kabul was severely injured and died en route to Lady Reading Hospital. He hailed from Janobi Darra, Mohmand Agency, and was the biggest fruit commission agent in the province with complete command over the trade.

“The attackers fired four shots and escaped,” said a Gulbahar police official, adding a pistol had been used and the details of the incident resembled a “typical case of target killing.”

“He was a rich fruit dealer and was constantly receiving threats from militants, who were demanding extortion from him,” claimed the official. Kabul had received several threatening letters in the past few months.

His last rites were offered in Shahi Bagh at 3pm on Monday.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2013.