Say no to bhatta khori!

All routine activities in the city ground to a halt on Saturday on the strike call given by traders and backed by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to press the government into taking immediate steps for protection from extortionists.
The city’s businessmen had announced a ‘Black Day’ to protest the alleged failure of the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in protecting them from extortionists. The traders also announced a countrywide shutter-down strike from March 21 if the LEAs fail to cope with ‘bhatta mafia’ in three days.
Early in the morning, some unidentified armed men resorted to aerial firing in different areas of the city, forcing the shopkeepers to close down their businesses. Miscreants also set to fire three buses in different parts of the city.
A large number of office-goers were seen standing at the bus stops waiting for public transport.
Attendance at all public and private sector institutions remained low due to the unavailability of public transport while industrial production was also badly affected due to the absence of manpower.
Everyday life was also reportedly disturbed in parts of Sindh, particularly Hyderabad and Sukkur and the people had to immense difficulties due to the closure of shops and markets.
Talking with Pakistan Today, All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI) President Atiq Mir said that over 500 markets across the city were closed down on Saturday following the protest call of traders. “The traders’ associations of Hyderabad and Sukkur also observed a black day and a complete shutter-down strike on our call.”
Claiming that the national exchequer suffered a loss of around Rs 3 billion due to the closure of markets in the financial hub, he said the traders may also observe a countrywide strike after three days if the LEAs fail in protecting traders from extortionists.
Mir said the traders had held several meetings with the police department but to no avail, compelling the businessmen for a mass agitation, adding that the traders had even paid the police to establish Community Police Centres (CPCs) in all parts of the city for protection of traders but without any positive results.
“The police department has constructed small posts but they do not deploy adequate personnel there due to political pressures,” he said. “On the persistence of traders, police made 10 CPCs functional in the Old City area but despite this the traders continue to receive parchis (extortion slips) and threatening calls from extortionists.”
On the call of AKTI, the traders of small and cottage industries also observed a black day and all work at the units remained suspended.
All Pakistan Organisation of Small and Cottage Industries (APOSCI) President Mehmood Hamid told Pakistan Today that his association would launch a protest march from the Jama Cloth Market to the Merewether Tower and later stage a sit-in outside the Central Police Office (CPO) on March 20 against extortion. “Over 15,000 small and cottage industries in the city are facing threats from extortionists over non-payment of bhatta (extortion).”
He said the APOSCI has started approaching other trade associations to join them in the March 20 protest march and demonstration.
Talking with Pakistan Today, Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI) President Irshad Bukhari said the transporters also observed a wheel-jam strike on the call of traders. “The transporter members of AKTI did not bring out their vehicles on the road in solidarity with the traders as they are also receiving threats from extortionists.”
To a question, he said the transporters had observed a black day on the calls from traders and political parties. “It would be premature to announce the losses faced by transporters due to the strike of traders,” Bukhari added.
All Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (APPDA) President Abdul Sami said the petrol pumps in Sindh particularly in Karachi reopened for public after 5:00 pm on Saturday evening as per the commitment with traders.
Later in the evening, markets and fuel pumps were reopened and traffic restored in the city.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain thanked the business community and others for observing a peaceful protest against the inaction against the extortion mafia and the autocratic attitude of the Pakistan People’s Party’s MPAs.
Hussain hoped that President Asif Ali Zardari’s firm assurances regarding stern action against the extortion mafia and criminal elements operating in Karachi would translate into action and the beleaguered business community would be given adequate protection of life and property.