KOHAT: The shopkeepers and wholesale dealers of the government fruit and vegetable market staged a protest demonstration here on Thursday against the operation of private fruit and vegetable market in violation of the court orders.

The protesters also blocked the University Road to traffic and burnt tyres against what they called illegal operation of the private market despite section 144 for banning it.

Addressing the protesters, president of the government market Fayyaz Khan said that the Peshawar High Court had issued orders for closure of the private market in presence of the government’s facility.

He alleged that as the owner of the private market was a provincial office-bearer of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, MPA Ziaullah Bangash was supporting him and putting pressure on the administration to allow it to function. He requested him to back the court and administration’s decisions.

ASP Nabeel Ahmed held negotiations with the protesters and assured them of finding a solution to their demands.

TWO KILLED: A naib qasid of a local court and a property dealer were killed and one person was injured in separate incidents here on Thursday.

The city police said that naib qasid Mohammad Usman was going to his home in Kalo Banda when unknown motorcyclist opened fire at him. He was taken to the KDA hospital, but succumbed the bullet injuries. His son Maqsood Khan registered an FIR against the assailants.

Also, a property dealer Hameed Khan was killed when he was sitting in his car for going home in Darrewal Banda in Tappi area. The police have registered an FIR on the complaint of his cousin, Mohammad Zeeshan.

In another incident, one Shahid Khan was seriously injured when he was fired in Junglekhel. He was taken to hospital where doctors referred him to Peshawar. Police have registered the case.

Meanwhile, Ustarzai police arrested a woman who was trying to smuggle hashish from Orakzai district to southern parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at Marai checkpost on Thursday.

During checking on Orakzai-Kohat road, the police stopped a pickup and found a suspicious woman. The lady police were asked to frisk her who found six packets containing over seven kilogrammes of hashish in her lap.

The suspect, Imtiaz Bibi of Bara, Khyber tribal district, was presented in the court which sent her to the prison. A case has been registered against the suspect.

Published in Dawn, January 24th, 2020