Arrested traders released from DI Khan prison on court order

ABBOTTABAD: The representatives of the traders who were sent behind bars for protesting against increase in rent of the shops owned by Cantonment Board Abbottabad were released from the Dera Ismail Khan prison on Friday on the order of the Peshawar High Court Abbottabad Circuit Bench.  

The court ordered the release of the traders on bail and barred the police from arresting the other representatives of the trader community nominated by the district administration.   Mumtaz Khan, president of Cantonment Plaza Abbottabad, and other representatives of the traders were arrested by police under Section-3 of the MPO imposed by the district administration.

The arrests were challenged by the traders through HammadHussain Shah Advocate.

Assistant Advocate General Naeem Abbasi appeared on behalf of the deputy commissioner, Abbottabad in the case.

Justice Qalandar Ali Khan had asked the government attorney to draw a line between the law abiders and violators as businessmen and traders were the most humble segment of the society. He said that everyone had the right to protest against the decisions of the government, adding that traders had raised voice against the hike in rent of the shops.

Justice Qalandar Ali Khan asked for the reasons for the imposition of Section-3 MPO whether the protesters had damaged government property and took law into their own hands.

Earlier, the Peshawar High Court Abbottabad Circuit Bench directed the deputy commissioner of Abbottabad and the additional advocate general Abbottabad to appear in person on Thursday. 

Justice Qalandar Ali Khan had accepted the writ petition filed against the arrest of Mumtaz Khan and other traders. 

Mumtaz Khan and other traders were arrested and sent to Dera Ismail Khan Prison under Section-3 MPO. It may be recalled here that traders had protested against the increase in the rent of the shops owned by the Cantonment Board Abbottabad.