The traders here on Tuesday unanimously decided to launch a protest movement against the deteriorating law and order situation in the provincial metropolis and failure of the provincial and district administration in the arrest of the culprits involved in attempt on the lives of central president Anjuman Tajiran NWFP Haji Haleem Jan and his son.
This was announced by chairman, Tajir Ittehad, Peshawar, Haji Ghufran Khan Saraf while addressing a press conference here at Peshawar Press Club (PPC).
Those who present on the occasion were including former president, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) Malik Zahid Hussain, former senior vice president SCCI Sharafat Ali Mubarak, and prominent leaders of the trading community, Shaukat Ali Khan, Shaukaullah Khan Hamdard, Javid Akhtar, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman and others.
He said that Haji Haleem Jan has neither any enmity nor monetary dispute with any one, but still an attempt was made on his life. Therefore, he said that they are demanding probe into the matter.
A meeting of traders held at historical Qissa Khwani Bazaar on May 31, decided to launch a protest movement over the incident, he said.
Eight days have been passed but both the provincial and district administrations have been failed to arrest any one in connections.
Haji Ghufran, who is chairman of Tajir Ittehad, Peshawar said from tomorrow June 8, they are going on a protest campaign. In first phase he said a hunger strike camp would be established at Chowk Yadgar from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
Similar hunger strike camps would also be held on Saddar Road, Shubba Bazaar Chowk.
At the end of the last hunger strike camp a protest demo would also be held to send out concern to the power corridors in the province.
In the second phase a grand Jirga of the trading community would take decision on resorting to road blockades and observing of shutter down strike. The decision into this affect would be announced shortly.
Speaking on the occasion, former senior vice president of SCCI, Sharafat Ali Mubarak said that lawlessness in the province in general and in Peshawar city in particular has reached to an alarming level and the lack of security has went down to such situation that no one is confident to return home safely in the city.
He also criticised the federal budget and termed a jugglery of words. It is a unique budget, which has nothing for traders, industrialists, employees and common man as well. He said that small traders have sent their proposals for consideration in the budget, but they were out rightly rejected. He said that the focus of the protest campaign would also include price hike, lawlessness and anti-people budget.