The ongoing protests, organized by the Jewellers and Goldsmiths Association, have now extended beyond Peshawar to other cities. Banners demanding the re-lease of detained traders were displayed across commercial areas.
A delegation of traders, led by Malik Mehr Elahi, President of the Traders’ Association of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, met with Peshawar’s CCPO Dr Mian Saeed, to convey their concerns. The delegation in-cluded Amin Hussain Babar, Provincial President of the Jewellers and Goldsmiths Association; Haji Ongzib, President of the Old City Market; Ahsan Ali, General Secretary; Shehzad Ahmed Siddiqui, Spokes-person of the Traders’ Association; and Malik Usman Elahi, member of Peshawar Chamber of Commerce.
Speaking on behalf of the traders, the delegation emphasized that while they respect security agen-cies, the sanctity of homes and business premises must not be violated. “The manner in which the ar-rests were carried out is unacceptable,” they said.