Traders protest relocation of Mingora bus stand

MINGORA: The traders observed a complete shutter-down strike and staged protest against the decision to relocate the Mingora General Bus Stand back to the city centre.

Holding placards and banners, the protesters raised slogans against the administration and demanded the immediate reversal of the decision.

Additional 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.

Later, during an emergency press conference at Qambar Bypass, Malakand Division president of Traders Federation Abdul Rahim, president of Qambar Bypass Traders Union Bakht Zib Khan and 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.

They stated that relocating the bus stand back to the city was sheer injustice and a reflection of government inefficiency. The leaders warned that if the decision was enforced without consultation, the trader community would go on a hunger strike and completely block Qambar Bypass.

Abdul Rahim said, “We don’t want to harm anyone, but we will definitely defend our legitimate rights.” He expressed hope that the concerned authorities would ensure a fair and just decision and engage the trader community before taking any further steps.

It 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.

The government, by enforcing Section 4 on 50 kanals of land, acquired it at the rate of 679 rupees per square foot. However, the landowners challenged this price in court.

The 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.