Lawlessness, kidnapping and extortion: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa businessmen announce phase-wise protest drive

Businessmen of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have announced to launch a phase-wise agitation campaign against the growing lawlessness, incidents of kidnapping for ransom and extortion. "The fragile security is compelling us to shift businesses and families, causing flight of capital to provinces. Despite the appraising provincial government, police and security agencies about the prevailing adverse situation, no practical step has so far taken to ensure protection of lives and property and their businesses, said Zahidullah Shinwari, speaking a emergency news conference at the chamber house here on Tuesday.
Flanked by trader leader Sharafat Ali Mubarak, Riaz Arshad, Ghazanffar Bilour, Malik Iftikhar Awan, and members of business community, KPCCI chief said that why police and security agencies are showing reluctance to take action against the organized mafia and those behind the terrorists activities in the provincial capital Peshawar. "Stop pushing the business community and chamber into wall, and should take practical steps for overcome with deteriorating law and order situation, ending of kidnapping for ransom and extortion", Shinwari said. He added that the business and industries activities have been rapidly exhausting in the current poor law and order situation.
Shinwari said the traders and industrialists are being faced with worst kind of situation, which had never before established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said the traders are receiving 'parchi' by the extortionists, while the crime ratio has been also increased during last one year in the province. KPCCI chief informed more than 30 to 45 families of traders and industrialists had been shifted to Islamabad and Punjab, while they are also planning to shift businesses as well. There was not any expansion of industries, and most of people prefer to shift businesses to other provinces, he added.
"We are not in favour to shut businesses and take on roads, but we would register a peaceful protest to press the government to ensure protection to traders and their businesses, Shinwari said. Under the preliminarily phase, the business community will launch a phase-wise protest campaign, under which a protest camp would be established in premises of the chamber, he announced.
During second phase, KPCCI chief said a protest rally would be held from Peshawar G.T road and would stage a sit-in outside the Chief Minister House and Provincial Assembly. If the provincial government would fail to satisfy us to take practical steps for protection of business community, then in last resort, we will shut businesses and industries and continue protest for indefinite period, Shinwari said. Commenting on the federal budget 2014-15, he said there was not any special incentive or package for terrorism-affected business community and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also criticised the provincial government for not giving share to business community, while receiving Rs 23billion as one percent on head of war against terrorism from federal government.