PESHAWAR: The traders of Mir Ali tehsil in North Waziristan tribal district on Thursday blocked Mir Ali road for all kinds of traffic to record protest against non-payment of compensation for their damaged shops.
Mir Ali Trade Union president Ahmed Gul and other trade leaders said while addressing the protesters that 7,600 shops in Mir Ali were damaged during military operation Zarb-e-Azb, launched to wipe out militants who challenged society and the writ of government by imposing their own sharia.
They said the owners of 3,706 damaged shops got compensation, while the owners of remaining 3,500 shops are still deprived.
The protesters alleged that the survey done for assessment of damages was flawed and several people were left out. “ The traders who has been working in Mir Ali since 1970 suffered losses of Rs18 billion due to militancy and military operations” they claimed further in their protest.
They said the government is under obligation to help rehabilitate their businesses as they promised to do so after military operations. They have demanded that compensation must be paid immediately to end their difficulties.
The trade union asked the affected traders who were left out in the survey to submit new forms with them by January 25. They said if their demands were not accepted they would be compelled to stage protests outside the Chief Minister House in Peshawar and Banigala residence of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
