BANNU: The Traders in Bannu have set a three-day deadline for the government to open closed roads in the city. The business community says that if the roads are not reopened, the next course of action will be announced.
Addressing a press conference, Anjuman Tajran Bannu President Pir Manzoor Shah said that the war against terrorism was not only the responsibility of the forces but also the people, and it must be fought jointly. However, it is unfair to close roads after terrorist incidents and create problems for the people and traders.
He said that in the first place, there was the loss of life and property in the blasts, and after that, the closure of main roads brought business to a standstill, which fulfils the objectives of the terrorists.
He warned that if the road closures continue, the people and traders will be forced to starve.
Pir Manzoor Shah termed the closure of Miranshah Road, Juma Khan Road and Cantt areas as a disaster for the business community and said that the atmosphere of fear and panic has put the people in further difficulties.
He said that if there were security concerns, then security and defence arrangements should be made, but closing roads and markets was not the solution to this problem.
Other business leaders, including Malik Nafid Jhandokhel, Chairman Altaf-ur-Rehman, Nek Jahan Shah, Malik Farman Mirakhel, Dilghafur Khan, Malik Hameed Khan, Set Imran, Farman Niaz, Hakamzad Khan, Sajid Shah and others, also expressed their views in the press conference.
The speakers said that despite the presence of four MPAs, one MNA, the provincial minister and the chief secretary in Bannu, the people here are left alone. The district and divisional administration should discuss this issue with the higher authorities of the forces.
The Traders Association demanded that the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Chief Secretary and the Corps Commander Peshawar immediately open the closed roads in Bannu, as this is affecting a population of 1.4 million, and the traffic system has been disrupted.
