PESHAWAR: Local traders have blamed Afghan nationals for illegally occupying land properties and shops at Board Bazaar here and demanded of the provincial government to take action against them.

Speaking at a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Monday, the elders led by Rahim Khan said a group of Afghan nationals had occupied their properties and was not ready to give possession of the shops and other properties to the real owners.

“The illegal occupations can be judged from the fact that the Afghans have taken forcible possession of 29 shops at a local plaza and not ready to vacate them,” he complained and said the owners had moved court but local police were not complying with the court orders.

Rahim Khan alleged that the Afghans had also influenced local police who were threatening the property owners.

He demanded of the government to order probe into the illegal occupation of shops and expel the Afghans because they were creating problems for local traders and property owners.

He said if the government did not get vacated the shops the people themselves would take action against the illegal occupants, and in case of any untoward incident the entire responsibility would rest with the police concerned.