In search for justice: Protests erupt over death of labourers in Ghanta Ghar

Govt sets up committee to probe accidental deaths during anti-encroachment drive.

PESHAWAR:

Protests were held across the city on Saturday over the accidental killing of three labourers during an anti-encroachment drive in Ghanta Ghar a day earlier. An excavator crushed three people to death on Friday evening, prompting traders to announce three days of mourning.

An FIR was registered against Municipal Officer Regulation Shahid Iqbal, Riaz Awan, Municipal Corporation Peshawar (MCP) Administrator Zafar Ali Shah as well as the chief municipal officer. According to the police, complainant Shahid Khan, president of Anjuman-e-Tajran Insaf Group, filed a report against these employees of the MCP at Kutwali police station.

Awami National Party’s (ANP) district chapter held a demonstration against the incident which was attended by the party’s leadership near Ghanta Ghar. ANP lawmaker Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, the party’s provincial vice-president Haroon Bilour, the city district president Malik Ghulam Mustafa, general secretary Sartaj Khan and other office bearers participated in the protest.

Protesters demanded those who were responsible for the tragedy should be put behind bars.

Similarly, a large number of shopkeepers and traders gathered on GT Road near Bala Hissar Fort and shouted slogans against MCP and the provincial government. Some demonstrators also raised slogans against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan and Chief Minister Pervez Khattak for repeatedly ignoring the province in its time of need. The protest continued for an hour after which the road was opened for traffic.

Earlier in the day, the funeral of the labourers was held on GT Road. At least 300 shopkeepers from Ghanta Ghar and Karimpura Bazaar, members of the All Traders Alliance and ANP leaders attended the last rites.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) president of Markazi Tanzeem-e-Tajiran Sharafat Ali Mubarak’s group has announced a three-day mourning period in the city. He also demanded MCP Administrator Zafar Ali Shah be immediately suspended. Various officials from traders unions in the district condemned the incident and will observe three days of mourning.

The next step

Traders and shopkeepers believe the K-P government should have taken prompt action and should not have allowed the incident to take place.

However, the provincial government responded quickly and constituted a committee to probe the matter. The panel includes MPA Shaukat Yousafzai and Shahid, a representative from a trader’s union. Both representatives will discuss the matter and advise the government on a suitable course of action.

According to insiders, Shahid has put forward three demands to the government. He has asked the government to compensate the families of the three labourers, conduct an impartial probe into the incident and ensure the culprit is taken to task.

The trader’s union representative also urged the chief minister to offer condolences to the bereaved families.

K-P Home and Tribal Affairs Secretary Syed Akhtar Ali Shah has also announced an enquiry into the circumstances surrounding the accidental deaths during the anti-encroachment drive. According to a notification issued on Saturday, special secretary of the home department Siraj Khan has been appointed as the enquiry officer in the case.

Friday’s incident occurred when shopkeepers protesting against the drive began pelting the excavator with stones. The driver of MCP’s excavator hastily stepped on the reverse-gear – unaware that some people were standing behind his vehicle. The driver fled the scene after the incident.

The anti-encroachment drive was launched by the chief municipal officer and other employees of the corporation, earning the ire of shopkeepers.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2015.