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Taliban attacks worry Peshawar business community

* SCCI demands government provide security to traders

By Daud Khattak

PESHAWAR: The increasing activities of Taliban on the outskirts of Peshawar are rapidly becoming a threat to business community in this provincial metropolis and businessmen have warned of shifting their enterprises to other provinces if the government did not take steps to control the law and order situation.

Expressing concern over the wave of Talibanisation around Peshawar, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) vice president Inayat Khan said both the common citizens and investors were worried about the prevailing situation.

Security: He said the government should provide security to businessmen to ensure more investment in this cash-strapped province.

Commenting on the situation, SCCI former president Ghulam Sarwar Mohmand said around 90 per cent supply to NWFP industries from Punjab had been stopped due to the official statements and threats by Taliban.

He said the prevailing situation had compelled majority of industrialists to shift their industries to other provinces. Mohmand urged the government to ensure safety of life and property to citizens.

He said some recent statements from government circles regarding beefing up of security in and around Peshawar had further increased the awe and fear among the people.

Talking to Daily Times, another former president of SCCI Faiz Rasool Khan asked the government to accept all the “valid” demands of the Taliban. He believed security situation had improved due to the recent peace deal between the NWFP government and the Swat-based Taliban.

Member executive committee of the Women Chamber of Commerce Mrs. Nuzhat Rauf asked the government to deal with the Taliban with an iron hand. “Any concession acceded by the government will further strengthen and embolden the Taliban,” she opined.

Had the government initiated action against the Taliban soon after the Lal Masjid incident, the situation would not have slipped from bad to worse. She blamed the previous government for ignoring the Talibanisation which was now posing threat to the security of the country.

Attacks on police patrols on the outskirts of Peshawar as well as the presence of powerful warlords like Mangal Bagh and Haji Namdar in Bara area and activities of Taliban in Darra Adam Khel and Michni areas have compelled the residents of Peshawar to believe that the city is under siege of Taliban.

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