KHAR: Traders and political activists on Sunday staged a protest demonstration against the `illegal` construction of shops along the road in Sadiqabad Bazaar here.

The protest was organised by All Bajaur Traders Association and All Bajaur Political Parties Alliance.

All the shops in the bazaar remained closed during the demonstration, which continued for around one and a half hour.

The speakers alleged that some influential persons with the support of local administration were constructing new shops in front of the existing shops along the road.

They said the construction was in violation of the local administration`s decision that there would be no shops within 30 metres on both sides of the road.

They said construction of shops would affect the smooth flow of traf fic.

The protesters expressed fear that if the construction was not stopped instantly then the land mafia would be encouraged to start construction of shops even along the main road.

They alleged that some officials of local administration were backing the influential people in construction of shops.

The speakers appealed to the political agent and the commandant Bajaur Scouts to take notice of the illegal construction of shops.

PTI RALLY: PTI activists on Sunday pledged to participate in the party`s `lockdown` of Islamabad in large numbers.

They were talking to reporters after a meeting here to review the preparations for protest on Nov 2.

Senior PTI leaders Mohammad Saleem Khan, Gul Zafar Khan Baghi and Asadullah Khan claimed that thousands of party workers would participate in the `campaign against corruption` They said youths and students were excited to participate in the `historic` gathering in Islamabad.

The PTI leaders said they would leave for Islamabad on Tuesday, claiming that all the workers had announced to end their differences during the meeting for the larger party interest.

Although the PT I leaders did not specify the actual number of workers who would participate in the gathering in Islamabad, they claimed that thousands of workers would go to the federal capital.

They also pointed out that hundreds of vehicles had been arranged to take the workers to Islamabad.