Afghanistan authorities Friday closed down its consulate in Peshawar in protest over the ownership dispute over Afghan Market in the capital city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Afghan Embassy in Islamabad alleged that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government has made "unilateral decision" regarding the long-standing dispute over the market's ownership.

On Wednesday, the Peshawar High Court handed over the possession of a long-disputed Afghan Market to a citizen named Shaukat Kashmiri. Kashmiri had filed a case in Peshawar High Court (PHC) claiming ownership of the Afghan Market that was established on a plot adjacent to the Afghan Consulate in Peshawar.

The court had ordered the Deputy Commissioner to ensure implementation on the verdict given in Kashmiri's favour and to hand over possession of shops in the related market to the applicant.

In connection with a court order, the operation was conducted under the supervision of high officials of district administration while the police were also present on the site to maintain law and order. To avoid any mishap the road was closed for traffic while a hotel was demolished during the operation. Although an official of the Afghan consulate reached the site and claimed that the market was the property of the Afghan government and pleaded not to seal it, the operation continued.

The city authorities removed the Afghan flag and proprietorship board from the market that had existed for decades. Kabul claimed the Afghan Market is a property of Afghanistan's national bank.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019