Trader’s murder by extortionists triggers protest

ByMuhammad Farooq

SWABI: The residents of Yar Hussain village on Tuesday blocked the Swabi-Mardan and Chota Lahor-Yar Hussain roads to protest the killing of a local trader.

Brothers Zainab Ali and Haji Shah were at their shop in Yar Hussain village when two motorcyclists opened fire on them late Monday.

As a result, Zainab Ali was killed on the spot and Haji Shah was seriously injured. The assailants escaped after committing the crime.

The injured trader said the killers had demanded Rs5 million as extortion money, but they had refused to pay. “They killed my brother and injured me after we refused to pay extortion,” he added.

The protesters gathered in the main market of Yar Hussain, placed the body of the trader on the road, and blocked Chota Lahor-Yar Hussain road for traffic for hours and the Swabi-Mardan road briefly. They also chanted slogans against the killers and law-enforcing agencies.

Later, leaders of the protesting people held talks with the District Police Officer Syed Khalid Hamdani. They demanded complete security umbrella and registration of first information report against the extortionists at the Counter-Terrorism Department. The DPO assured the protesters that the killers would be arrested within three days. After the assurance, the protesters dispersed peacefully.