A B B O T T A B A D / NOWSHERA: Traders have observed complete strike against increase in rent of shops by the cantonment board, Äbbottabad. All the shops and markets in the cantonment area remained closed while protesters took out a peaceful procession from the cantonment plaza and held a protest meeting in front of the office of cantonment executive officer, Abbottabad.

The meeting was addressed by Cantt traders association president Saleem Roshan, cantonment plaza president Haji Mumtaz and other traders.

They said that they would never accept the 1,500 per cent rise in the rents and demanded of the Cantt authorities to increase the rents according to the law.

The said that would accept 25 per centincrease in the rent after every three years. It was said that a delegation of the traders of Abbottabad would soon meet the high-ups of military land department to resolve the issue.

The speakers criticised their elected representatives for not taking interest in the resolution of problems of the business community. They said that a large number of tourists were present in Abbottabad, but the traders were suffering big losses by closing down their shops.

In Nowshera, the Anjumani-Tajiran observed a shutter down strike against alleged step-motherly attitude of the cantonment board and demanded transfer of the executive officer. The traders held a protest rally, which was led by Anjuman-i-Tajiran president Khalid Khan and other office-bearers. Traders of the main bazaar, Kochi market and Moti bazaar participated in rally.

They alleged that the chief executive officer of cantonment board had locked some people in their homes. They also said that the board had destroyed 40 cabins in Nowshera which was not acceptable to them. Correspondent