SHANGLA: Traders of Chakesar tehsil on Saturday observed a shutter down strike against the assistant commissioner for imposing `unjust and heavy` fines on them.

All shops and business centres were closed while vehicular traffic remained suspended as pan of the strike across the tehsil.

The traders also staged a demonstration on the main square, demanding immediate transfer of assistant commissioner, Bisham, Javed Iqbal.

The protesters were led by traders` union president Abdul Haseeb.

Transpon union president Yousaf Khan, meat sellers union president Waseefullah, and other traders spoke on the occasion, claiming that they had not violated the food law, but even then the assistant commissioner fined shopkeepers on the complaint of village council representatives.

Abdul Haseeb said the AC visited the Chakesar Bazaar and fined fruit sellers, handcart pushers and other shopkeepers. He alleged that fines ranging from Rs6,000 to Rs10,000 were imposed on the traders.

Yousaf Khan, the local transport union president, said the assistant commissioner imposed illegal fines on transporters without any `justification`.

Waseefullah said if the AC was not transferred they would come onto the roads against the provincial government.

`Those involved in violating food laws and selling expired items are spared,` he said.

The demonstrators threatened that if the assistant commissioner was not transferred within three days they would start an agitation drive.