Karachi’s traders have decided to keep all retail and wholesale markets shut on Saturday (today) to protest the increasing cases of extortion and street crime in the city after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) took a stand over the issue on Friday.
Private schools will also remain closed and public transport is expected to remain thin.
The All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI) announced that all small and major business units in the city will remain closed to protest the activities of the extortion mafia.
“Traders are finding it hard to run their business activities as they are killed by extortionists if they do not pay them money,” said Atiq Mir, chairman of the AKTI.
“Traders are looted and killed in broad daylight, but the law enforcement agencies do not take any notice. If extortionists keep roaming around with impunity, there must be some force backing them,” he added. “Despite repeated requests by the business community, the extortion mafia belonging to various groups is freely distributing extortion slips and threats of dire consequences in case of non-payment.”
In a separate statement, Businessmen Group Chairman and former president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Siraj Kassam Teli, KCCI President Mian Abrar Ahmad and others appreciated that the MQM has raised a voice against the increasing criminal activities and the recent killings of traders in Karachi. “Any action taken in this respect will be appreciated by the KCCI,” they said.
