The leaders warned that if the decision is enforced without consultation, the trader community will go on a hunger strike and completely block Qambar Bypass
\nHaroon Siraj
\nSWAT
\nTraders, hotel owners, and other businesspersons at Qambar Bypass observed a complete shutter-down strike and staged a strong protest against the decision to relocate the Mingora General Bus Stand back to the city center. Protesters raised slogans against the government and demanded the immediate reversal of the decision.
\nDuring the protest, participants held placards inscribed with slogans in favor of their demands. All commercial centers remained closed, bringing business activities in the area to a halt.
\nAdditional Assistant Commissioner Babuzai, Tariq Khan, held negotiations with the protesters, after which the demonstrators gave the government a deadline until Monday to reconsider the decision.
\nLater, during an emergency press conference at Qambar Bypass, President of Malakand Division Traders Federation Abdul Rahim, President of Qambar Bypass Traders Union Bakht Zib Khan, trader leader Haji Mudasir, local council representatives including Chairman Engro Dherai Shoaib Khan, Chairman Qambar Riaz Khan, and Chairman Rahimabad Bakht Munir, among others, said that the government had only recently shifted the bus terminal from the city to the bypass, on which traders had invested billions of rupees.
\nThey stated that relocating the bus stand back to the city is sheer injustice and a reflection of government inefficiency. The leaders warned that if the decision is enforced without consultation, the trader community will go on a hunger strike and completely block Qambar Bypass.
\nPresident Abdul Rahim said, \u201cWe don\u2019t want to harm anyone, but we will definitely defend our legitimate rights.\u201d He expressed hope that the concerned authorities would ensure a fair and just decision and engage the trader community before taking any further steps.
\nIt should be remembered that the provincial government in 2019 abolished the old general bus stand and made the newly constructed bus terminal at Qambar Bypass functional.
\nThe government, by enforcing Section 4 on fifty kanals of land, acquired it at the rate of 679 rupees per square foot. However, the landowners challenged this price in court.
\nThe court, while announcing the verdict, ordered the government to pay 12,000 rupees per foot for the back and 15,000 rupees per foot for the front, due to which the total payable amount exceeded seven billion rupees. Because of the huge payment, the district administration has decided to relocate the general bus stand back to its old location.
\nIn this regard, new land will be acquired near the old terminal, after which the stand will be moved back six years later.\u201d sources said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The leaders warned that if the decision is enforced without consultation, the trader community will go on a hunger strike and completely block Qambar Bypass Haroon Siraj SWAT Traders, hotel owners, and other businesspersons at Qambar Bypass observed a complete shutter-down strike and staged a strong protest against the decision to relocate the Mingora General […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":476317,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-476295","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n