Ashrafuddin Pirzada
LANDIKOTAL
A protest against the alleged abduction/missing of prominent trader and tribal elder Muhammad Zarif Shinwari, popularly known as Haji Landay, continued for the third consecutive day in Landikotal on Sunday, with protesters demanding his immediate and safe recovery.
The protest sit-in has been held at Charwazgai, where demonstrators have blocked the Pak-Afghan Highway to press the authorities to trace the missing trader and arrest those responsible for his alleged abduction. The road blockade has disrupted traffic between Peshawar and Torkham and caused difficulties for passengers, transporters and traders.
According to police, a case has been registered against unidentified persons at Landikotal police station on the complaint of the trader’s son.
Police said the FIR stated that unidentified individuals allegedly forced the trader out of his vehicle and took him away.
Haji Zarif reportedly went missing after leaving his residence for Landi Kotal Bazaar. His disappearance has sparked concern among his family, the local business community, tribal elders, political parties and residents of the area.
A large number of tribal elders, political workers, traders, civil society representatives and local residents have joined the protest, calling for the immediate recovery of the elderly trader.
The protesters said the alleged abduction of a well-known trader in broad daylight was a matter of serious concern and raised questions about the law-and-order situation in the border region. They urged the police and other relevant security agencies to intensify efforts to locate Haji Zarif and ensure his safe return.
Political and social leaders participating in the protest also condemned the incident and expressed solidarity with the trader’s family. They said citizens, particularly traders and elders, should be provided adequate security and that those involved in the incident must be brought to justice.
The protesters have maintained that the sit-in and road blockade would continue until Haji Zarif is safely recovered. They have also warned of expanding the protest if the authorities fail to provide satisfactory information about his whereabouts.
The continued closure of the Pak-Afghan Highway has also affected movement through the Torkham border. According to reports, the road blockade has temporarily disrupted the return of Afghan nationals through the crossing.
Meanwhile, no official information regarding the whereabouts of Haji Zarif or the motive behind his alleged abduction was available at the time of filing this report. Police have registered the case against unidentified suspects and are investigating the incident.
The incident has renewed concerns among residents and traders in Landikotal said the safe recovery of the missing trader was essential to restoring public confidence and normalising traffic and commercial activity in the area.
Local elders and protesters have called on the authorities to take immediate and effective measures for his recovery and ensure that those responsible for the alleged abduction are identified and prosecuted according to law.
