Traders brawl during demo against extortionists

KARACHI: Karachi traders from the platform of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) held a protest demo against extortionist mafia Tuesday; however, due to scuffle between two groups of traders, the protest event was disturbed.

As per details on Monday a meeting of Karachi traders was held in the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in which representatives of small traders had resolved that they would keep the markets closed on Tuesday. However, the leader of Business Group Qasim Teli had announced that traders would hold a peaceful protest demo on 5th April from 03:00 pm to 07:00 pm at Polo Ground against worsening law and order situation in Karachi.

On Tuesday, the situation went tense when traders of KCCI gathered at the Polo Ground, a group of supporters of All Karachi Traders Alliance also reached there and tried to interrupt the press briefing of Chairman BMG Siraj Qasim Teli, which led to brawl. Five people received minor injuries in the scuffle.

Later, taking to newsmen Chairman Businessmen Group (BMG) KCCI Siraj Qasim Teeli said that they set up the protest camp to send a strong message to higher authorities about the grave concerns of the trader community, especially about extortion threats. He said traders and shopkeepers are living in perpetual fear as they regularly receive threats from extortionists.

He warned that the traders of Karachi would go on strike for infinite period from 12th April 2011, if the government failed to meet their demands. (PPI)