7 naanbais arrested on price violation

Rawalpindi: The local administration, Rawalpindi has sent Muthid Naanbais Welfare Association (MNWA) President Muhammad Shafiq Qureshi to Adiala Jail under Section of 3-MPO. The ‘naanbais showed strong reaction against it and refused to sell ‘roti’ and ‘naan’ at reduced prices till reductions of ‘atta’ and gas prices.

‘Atta’ was selling in the price of gold while government increased gas rates by 850 per cent, how they could sell a ‘roti’ and ‘naan’ in reduced prices, ‘Naanbais’ strongly protested. Punjab government has fixed a roti price at Rs16 against Rs20 and a naan price at Rs20 against Rs25.

The local administration, Rawalpindi has also arrested seven 'naanbais' on price violation issue here on Tuesday. On the directions of Deputy Commissioner, the district administration has taken action and arrested seven Naanbais including MNWA President Muhammad Shafiq Qureshi imposed fine of Rs170,000 against price violators.

The concerned management checked 100 tandoors where 68 Naanbais found ‘guilty’ and were selling ‘roti’ and ‘naan’ at old prices of Rs20 and Rs25. The local administration has also sealed 4 tandoors on price violations.

The Punjab government has instructed the deputy commissioners of all districts to implement the reduced prices of ‘roti’ and ‘naan’ announced to provide relief to the people.

MNWA General Secretary Khurshid Qureshi told ‘The News’ that local administration has arrested their President Shafiq Qureshi under Section of 3-MPO. The local administration was not allowing them to meet with president, he alleged.

He said that we are ready to cooperate with district administration if they reduced ‘atta’ and gas prices. A 20-kilogram ‘atta’ bag was selling at Rs2,850 t0 Rs3,250 while government increased gas prices by 850 per cent. How we could sell ‘roti’ and ‘naan’ in reduced prices, he said. The DC Rawalpindi was not ready to listen our grievances, he said.

He appealed to release all arrested naanbais including their president immediately to table talk otherwise we will on roads. Government is continuously increasing the prices of petrol, electricity, gas, ‘atta’ and several other eatable items and expecting public to sell all items in reduced prices which was not possible, he warned.

The DC Rawalpindi Hasan Waqar Cheema said that we will implement Punjab government notification at any cost. Naanbais could not sell ‘roti’ and ‘naan’ in exorbitant prices, he warned. Our magistrates arrested some ‘naanbais’ and imposed fine against price violators. The crackdown will remain continued till the implementation of notification, he warned.