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WEEKLY
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| Trade resumes in Khyber Bazaar but |
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memories of incident refuse to go away
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Delawar Jan
PESHAWAR: Traders in Khyber Bazaar Wednesday expressed their resolve to continue to live and do business despite having suffered huge human and material losses in a deadly car bombing last month.
The attack, carried out in the bazaar on October 9, killed 55 innocent civilians and injured more than 100. It was one of the most devastating blasts in Peshawar in recent weeks and caused widespread terror.
Though not as glorious as before, life goes on at the Soekarno Chowk that was soaked in blood and littered with human flesh more than three weeks ago. The traffic was moving, all shops were open, roadside vendors were busy selling ‘cholay’ and everything else, including fried meat, fresh and dry fruit. A small number of people were there on different errands.
The people were back to business but they were unable to forget the memories of the terrible blast that deprived several families of their breadwinners. Some of the survivors have not yet got over the trauma and wounds of several victims are yet to heal.
Kifayatullah, who was injured in the blast, is still in a shock and fails to recall the horrible incident. Resident of Wahid Gharai on Charsadda Road, he was working as a salesman at a shop in Soekarno Chowk when the bomb went off in front of his shop. The bombing and the ensuing traumatic state of Kifayat delayed his marriage scheduled for this month.
His employer, Saeed Zeb, is doing his utmost to bring him back to normal life. “His deep shoulder wound is still fresh but I forced him not to stay at home and asked him to come to the shop. I don’t want him to work but am trying to divert his attention to bring him out of the trauma,” he said, adding that Kifayat is the sole breadwinner of his family.
Working in the same shop, Naveed lost his life in the attack. His case is poignant. With his marriage only two-year old, he has a little daughter and his widow is expecting another child. He too was the lone breadwinner of his family, getting a salary of Rs8,000 a month. He has three younger brothers, Waheed, Muqeeb and Saeed. Now his family is relying on the earning of one of his younger brothers, who works at a fuel station as attendant. Setting a good example, his employer, Saeed Zeb, is giving half of Naveed’s salary to the family. “It will continue forever,” Saeed Zeb said.
A salesman in a sanitary shop, Iftikhar of Tarojaba was killed while two others Muzzamil and Hamid were injured. Hamid was still in the hospital.“I was lucky to escape the blast as I had gone to fetch drinking water from a nearby area. I heard a bang and as I rushed to the shop. Bodies were lying all over,” recalled Gul Wali, a salesman in the same shop. The blast took place right in front of his shop.
Muhammad Aslam, another shopkeeper, said one person was injured in his shop. The shopkeepers said the government had not extended cash help to the victims and their families. Some said the victims were running from pillar to post to get registered as affected. “We will not approach the government for help as we will be made to visit the government departments for months,” Saeed Zeb said.
Selling chairs, he said they had suffered Rs0.6 million loss in the blast and the business was now witnessing a downturn. “Our sales have slumped by 90 per cent,” he claimed. He said his shop was insured but the Habib Insurance Company was now unwilling to pay the insurance, arguing that the company did not compensate losses suffered in acts of terrorism.
Gul Wali said their business had incurred Rs50,000-60,000 loss as a result of the blast. The shopkeepers see the future bleak, he said, but added that they would live and die in Peshawar. The resolute traders said they would continue doing business at the same location. “We can’t leave our city due to fear of terror,” Saeed Zeb vowed.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
