BAJAUR: Traders of Khar Bazaar on Sunday demonstrated against the murder of a shopkeeper on Saturday, and demanded the early arrest of his killers.

Social and political activists also attended the protest held at the main Chowk.

The protesters, who blocked the road for about an hour, chanted slogans against the police for failing to ensure security of traders.

Samiullah was killed by unknown gunmen in Khar Bazaar on Saturday.

Bajaur Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Haji Lali Shah, Khar traders’ association president Haji Ameer Rahman, PML-N leader Anwarul Haq, Javid Khan and Sahib Rahman of Jamaat-i-Islami also spoke.

Demand early arrest of killers

The protesters described the broad daylight murder in the crowded bazaar a failure of the police to ensure safety and security of traders and shoppers in the main trade centre of Bajaur.

They noted this was not the only incident of killing in the Khar Bazaar as several such incidents had happened in the past.

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The speakers regretted that the police had yet to make any arrest.

They demanded an improved security environment in Khar and other major bazaars of the district. They also asked the local police chief to ensure the early arrest of those involved in the murder of Samiullah, who was killed by unknown assailants in front of his shop.

PROTEST: Rejecting the proposed plan of imposing taxes in Malakand division, JI local leaders on Sunday announced to attend the planned sit-in at the Swat Motorway toll plaza on June 2.

Addressing a news conference, JI Bajaur deputy chief Qari Abdul Majeed, general secretary Mohammad Hameed, Farmanullah, Abdul Manan, Haji Dawalat Khan and others said that like rest of Malakand division and tribal districts, the people of Bajaur had also rejected the federal government’s plan of imposing taxes in the region.

They said there was no justification of imposing taxes in Malakand division and tribal districts as these regions were the most backward, where most people were living an abject life.

The Jamaat leaders said Malakand division and tribal districts were badly affected by militancy and war on terrorism.

They said the Malakand and tribal districts should be given relief like the people of Azad Kashmir and Gligit-Baltistan.

The JI leaders asked the provincial government, the local leaders of PML-N, PPP and PTI to play their role to stop the federal government from imposing taxes in Malakand division.

The Jamaat leaders said a large number of party activists would participate in the planned sit-in.

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2024