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Peshawar shuts to mourn blast victims

PESHAWAR: The city markets remained closed on Friday to mourn for those killed in the Wednesday’s car bomb attack in Chirri Koban area in which more than 110 persons were killed and around 160 injured. The city traders under the banner of Tajir Ittehad (TI) had announced one day shutter down strike to mourn the blast and record their protest against the government’s failure to provide security to the masses. Most of the city’s main trade centres including Ashraf Road, Rampura Gate, Chowk Yadgar, Koochi Bazaar, Muslim Meena Bazaar, Karimpura, Qissa Khwani, Khyber Bazaar, Shoaba Bazaar, Namak Mandi, Dabgari, Saddar Bazaar, University Road and Jamrud Road remained closed. Complete shutter down was observed in Andar Sheher (inner city) areas and not a single shop or market was open. Traffic was thin and less than usual public transport plied the roads. Most of the city bazaars and trade centres were presenting a deserted look and by the noon, police personnel were outnumbering the common people in major streets of the city. The traders earlier gathered at Chowk Yadgar, offered fateha for those who perished in the fateful attack and expressed solidarity with the bereaved families. TI senior leader Khalid Ayub told Daily Times that the strike was 99 percent successful and that traders would plan phase II of their protest within a week. Earlier on Thursday, the city traders had declined an invitation to meet the provincial chief minister following the bomb attack, saying that the government did not bother to listen to their grievances when they were asking the chief minister to meet them, and now they were not ready to meet him following the recent spate of bomb attacks in the city. Meanwhile, a Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SSCI) statement issued here said that the chamber held a condolence reference at its office for the blast victims. manzoor ali shah

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