Robberies rampant in Sohrab Goth cattle market's parking area

Customers criticise administration and local police for poor security measures

KARACHI: The parking area of the city's largest cattle market at Sohrab Goth has become an easy spot for thieves, as robbers continue to loot the customers visiting the market of their valuables.

The customers are at a risk of losing their valuables, such as expensive car panels, side mirrors and stereo systems, due to poor security measures. Criticising the cattle market administration and the local police, visitors have conveyed their concerns on social media by uploading pictures of their cars with broken windows and side mirrors. Besides this, several customers returning from the cattle market have also become victims of mobile phone snatching at gunpoint.



The parking area is located adjacent to the cattle market. Any car or motorcycle is allowed to enter the parking area after receiving a parking slip from an official of the cattle market, who stands on the entry point. Meanwhile, several parking staffers are also on duty in the parking area. However, despite this, the authorities have failed to stop thieves from breaking into cars and stealing car parts.

The cattle market at Sohrab Goth was set up by Malir Cantonment and its control was later handed over to a private administration through a tender. This year, the tender has been given to Hasan Brothers while the administrator is Syed Irshad Ahmed.

According to one of the victims, Muhammad Saqib, he went with his family to visit the VIP tents of the cattle market. However, when he returned to the parking area, he found that someone had taken out his car's navigation system, stereos and side mirrors. Saqib claimed that his wife left her bag in the car, which was also stolen by the thieves.



Another victim, Rehan AakaKhel, said his car was parked at the centre of the parking area, where the parking staff is always on duty.

However, even then, he became a victim of these culprits. He claimed that such activities in the market cannot happen without the convinance of market staffers.

The administrator, Irshad Ahmed, admitted that some of these incidents came to his knowledge. He added that he has asked the contractor of the parking area, Taiba Group of Companies, to take strict measures and provide full security in the parking area for the vehicles.



Ahmed added that according to his information, the local police and Rangers personnel have been asked to provide help in improving the security situation. He claimed that the criminals involved in these activities are mostly young children living in nearby slums of Madina Colony. The children are able to easily commit such crimes by taking advantage of their age, he said.

On the other hand, SITE Super Highway police station SHO Anar Khan Tarar said that they have already taken measures against street criminals and deployed police mobiles and commandos on the route of the cattle market.

According to the SHO, they recently gunned down a group of street criminals when they were allegedly busy looting cash and valuables from citizens who were en route the cattle market. Upon resistance from the suspects, the police retaliated with full force. Three robbers were killed after an exchange of fire, the police said.