Muhkam Uddin Ayuni
CHITRAL: A trade leader on Saturday demanded immediate transfer of the deputy commissioner of Lower Chitral for the district administration’s failure to cooperate in the recent election of the traders’ union.
Speaking at a function held to administer oath to the newly-elected office-bearers of the union, its interim president Habib Hussain Mughal said the deputy commissioner’s move of not extending co-operation to the traders in holding the election was highly condemnable.
After the district administration refused to provide a venue, the union sent the ballot papers and boxes to each shop in the town and collected the votes. The counting of the votes was later carried out at the press club.
Mr Mughal said traders were a very important segment of society but the DC’s attitude towards them was not only unprofessional but also contemptuous.
He also called upon the local leaders of all political parties to get the DC transferred. He however praised the district police for their co-operation in the holding of the polls.
Newly-elected union president Bashir Ahmed said injustice was done with the traders of Chitral town during the last three years. On a daily basis, the shopkeepers were fined thousands of rupees under different excuses, he added.
This was done by the district administration in connivance with the previous president of the traders’ union, he added.
He said the new union would work to resolve traders’ issues in coordination with all political parties.
MPA Hudayatur Rehman administered oath to the new office-bearers of the union.