Peshawar(Capital of NWFP,Pakistan) derives its name from a Sanskrit word "Pushpapura",Meaning the City of Flowers.Peshawar,s flowers were even mentioned in Mughal Emperior Babar,s Memories.
Peshawar is old,so old that its origins are lost in antiquity,founded over 2,000 years ago by the Kushan Kings of Gandhara,it has had almosts many names as rulers.
After the Kushan era,Peshawar declined into an obscurity not broken until the 16th century.Mughal emperor Babar came to Peshawar, he found a city called Begram,and rebuilt the fort there,in 1530.His grandson,Akbar formally gave the name PESHAWAR which means "The Place at the Frontier"and much much improved the bazaars and fortifications.Earlier it had been known as the"CITY OF FLOWERS"and the "City of Grains".In the days of the Kushan King it was called the "Lotus Land".
This is 2009,City of Flowers become the city of kidnappers.
Over 23 million residents of Frontier and Fata are worried about the future of their families and the fate of their homeland in the wake of unprecedented crises that the region is faced with over the last many years.
Uncertainty and insecurity prevail everywhere for the last over two years and one cannot find a single single person who is not scared of everyday bomb blasts,suicide attacks,rocket barrages,and now kidnapping for ransom,"On 1st January when people across the world were celebrating the advent of New Year ,the residents of the Capital City woke up with no light in their homes.
At one hand one cannot stay at home due to the hours-long power and gas load shedding while on the other they cannot go outside for the fear of being kinpapped for ransom.
The two days protest camp set up by the trading community of Peshawar,under the auspices of Tajir Ittehad Peshawar(TIP) has concluded here on Tuesday.The protest camp was set up a Chowk Yadgar,business hub of the city,to lodge condemnation over increasing incidents of large number of traders and political parties.
Participated in the camp to express solidarity with the protested businessmen.
The two days protest camp was the part of compaign launched by TIP against increase in kidnapping for ransom in the city.
Speaking on the occasion,President of TIP,Haji Haleem Jan Blamed provincial government for failing in providing protection to the resident of Peshawar.He said it is very diplorable for the first time a lady was abducted for ransom.
Haji Haleem Jan said police has failed in foiling the kidnapping attempts and it seemed that the abductors are free to fulfil their nefarious designs.
He also said that load shedding,price hike and now kidnapping have seriously damaged the business of NWFP in general,and Peshawar in particular.