SCCI warns protest against illegal raids on trade sites

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry acting president Ijaz Khan Afridi expressed anguish over harassment and arrest of traders, associated with tea business and warned of the protest if the illegal actions were not stopped forthwith.

He was speaking to a delegation of Pakistan Tea Association led by its provincial chairman Ishfaq Ahmad during a meeting here at the chamber house on Tuesday.
Delegation consisted of the chamber’s senior member Nadeem Rauf, association’s members Mubashir Hassan, Siddique Ahmad Paracha, Suleman Sawal, Muhammad Zubair, Saeed Ahmad and others.

Ishfaq Ahmad and other members of the association apprised the meeting that traders attached with business of tea were harassed and arrested by various government departments concerned during the ongoing crackdown against currency dealers in Chowk Yadgar Peshawar city, which was completely unjust and illegal, and should be stopped immediately.

They expressed anger that guests in shops and offices were also taken away by authorities concerned during the actions, which is a highly inappropriate and irresponsible act and strongly condemnable.

Tea association delegation appealed to the military chief, prime minister and chief minister along with high-officials of authorities concerned to let them do business.
“We are not against the ongoing combined crackdowns that had been launched by various government departments”,

They, however, said the authorities should take the dignity of traders’ community into account while carrying out actions in markets and business hubs and premises.
He said scrutiny of businesses should be conducted by following a proper mechanism and system.

Tea association delegation made it clear that if authorities should not have taken care of traders ‘dignity then Pakistan and the economy couldn’t have flourished.
Ijaz Afridi during the meeting assured the delegation of Pakistan Tea Associating that the chamber will take up harassment and arrest of traders’ with authorities concerned in an appropriate manner.

He said the illegal arrest and harassment of traders were intolerable. He asked the authorities concerned to review their anti-business policies and put them in the right direction.

Otherwise, he warned the SCCI will compel on protest along with the traders community.

Ijaz Afridi on the occasion stressed the need for forging unity among the traders community.

He said SCCI is a solely forum of the traders, which had always played a key role in resolution of business community issues.

The SCCI chief viewed that doing business in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is less than a holy war “Jihad’.

He informed that a concrete coordination system was established between relevant government institutions and the Sarhad chamber through which business community issues were resolved.