A delegation comprising industrialists of the Hayatabad Industrial Estate headed by Sarhad Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) President Liaquat Ahmad Khan on Saturday hold meetings with NWFP Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai and Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani.
The delegation during the meetings with the governor and the chief minister expressed apprehensions over the growing professional criminal activities, including theft and dacoity incidents in the industrial estate and demanded provision of protection for the industrialists of the Hayatabad Industrial Estate.
The delegation comprised Hayatabad Industrial Estate President Nauman Wazir, Mohsin Aziz, Ghulam Sarwar Khan Mohmand, Ghazanfar Bilour, Zahid Arif, Amanullah Khan Mohmand, Sharafat Ali Mubarak, Haji Mohammad Afzal, Adeel Rauf, Riaz Arshad, Malik Niaz Ahmad, Ashfaq Ahmad Paracha, and others.
They apprised the chief minister of the deteriorating law and order situation in industrial estate and activities of the anti-social elements in broad daylight, adding the tribal area adjacent to the industrial estate has become a hideout of criminals.
The delegation said the industrialists are feeling themselves insecure and if the situation remained the same then they would be forced to shift their business to other areas. It demanded the construction of a wall around the Hayatabad Industrial Estate and establishment of police posts on both entry and exit gates of the estate.
Speaking to the industrialists, Chief Minister Durrani assured that provision of protection to the industrialists' lives and properties. He announced the establishment of police posts on both ends of the industrial estate.
Meanwhile, Governor Aurakzai has directed the authorities concerned to take strict action against the elements who have got threatening posture to disturb peaceful environment of the Jamrud Industrial Estate situated at Hayatabad, Peshawar, and desired that joint strategy should have to be adopted for this purpose. He said: "We would never allow anyone to disturb the peace in the province by taking advantage of fleeing to tribal areas."
Responding to various points from the members of the delegation, the governor also directed the authorities concerned to go after the specific criminal elements, who had taken hide in adjacent tribal belt of Khyber Agency and try to avoid disturbing the peace-loving tribal people.
"There should be target-oriented, focused and more co-ordinated action against the elements involved in criminal activities and we must be more offensive to handle the criminals", he said.
He, however, assured the members of the delegation that quite a good headway has already been made to ensure peace and security, especially in the areas, situated along the tribal belt and a number of joint security posts have been established for this purpose, while efforts are also being made to further streamline the process for this purpose.