ABBOTTABAD: The Peshawar High Court’s Abbottabad Circuit Bench on Wednesday issued directives to the deputy commissioner and additional advocate general, Abbottabad, to appear in person on Thursday in a writ petition for cancellation of orders the district administration had issued for arrest of the cantonment plaza president under Section 3 MPO.

The petition was filed by Hamad Hussain Shah advocate.

After initial hearing, Justice Qalandar Ali Khan accepted the petition, challenging the arrest of Cantonment Plaza president Mumtaz Khan. Mumtaz was arrested under Section 3 MPO and sent to DIK Khan jail under various charges, including violation of amplifier act.

The traders and office-bearers of their association have shown resentment over increase of rent of shops at the Cantonment Plaza and other shops in the cantonment area. They also held a protest and observed shutter down strike, demanding cancellation of orders about heavy increase in rent of shops.

Meanwhile, complete strike was observed in the cantonment area where all the shops and markets were closed on the second consecutive day.

A delegation of the representatives of traders’ association and office-bearers of the District Bar Association also held a meeting with the station commander, Abbottabad. Sources said that the station commander assured the traders of his help to resolve the issue.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2016