Hue and cry: Fruit vendors threaten to protest demolition of shops

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar Fruit Traders Association has warned the district administration that it will take to the streets if it does not address their concerns. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, association members said a fruit market was demolished a day earlier even though they had obtained a stay order from the Peshawar High Court. They said the decision to demolish the market has deprived traders of their livelihood.

“We had leased out the property,” Abdul Samad, a member of the association said. “We were not occupying the land illegally. However, the district administration razed our shops to the ground. It didn’t even bother to ask us for any official documents.” Samad added such brazen practices are not prevalent anywhere else in the world.

“If it does happen, the relevant authorities conduct a detailed enquiry before taking such drastic steps,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 3^rd,  2015.