Traders to observe shutter-down strike today

Traders irked by arrests of over 50 shopkeepers on charges of overpricing

MANSEHRA: To protest the arrests of shopkeepers, traders in Mansehra would observe a shutter-down strike on Tuesday (today). This was decided at a meeting of Anjuman Tajran Mansehra on Monday.

According to Anjuman Tajran Senior Vice President Shoaib Khan, traders are irked by raids and consequent arrests of over 50 shopkeepers on charges of overpricing. Khan said the arrests were made by Mansehra DC Amir Khattak without informing the traders’ body, which could have better handled the situation.

The general secretary of the body, Haji Waseem, said the arrests were unjustifiable as the shopkeepers were selling groceries and other edibles at fixed rates, but had not displayed the pricelist. He claimed it was a petty issue which could have been resolved with a single warning.

However, the DC said the arrests are justifiable as the shops were raided on complaints by the public against shopkeepers and some of the members of Anjuman Tajran.