Traders demand security amidst rising street crime

Markets in Saddar remain shut after shopkeeper's killing on Sunday


Our Correspondent January 09, 2018
Shopkeepers staged on Monday a protest and demanded security of shopkeepers by the police. PHOTO: PPI

KARACHI: Mobile phone markets in Saddar area remained shut on Monday following the killing of a young shopkeeper by two robbers for offering resistance during an attempted mugging.

The 24-year-old shopkeeper, Owais, was shot dead by the robbers on Sunday. He was shot once in his abdomen and died shortly after the incident. The two robbers responsible for the killing were also killed - one by the angry crowd in the area and the other by the police during an exchange of fire.

After the violence on Sunday, mobile markets associations in Karachi announced to shut their businesses down in the Saddar area as a protest against the rising incidents of street crime at markets in the city, especially on Sundays, and against the killing of the their fellow shopkeepers.

Rangers, police to take on land grabbers in Karachi

Shopkeepers staged on Monday a protest against the incident and demanded security of shopkeepers by the police. "We are not demanding anything against the law," said Electronics Market Association President Rizwan Irfan. "We do not want that more innocent lives are lost in the future in similar incidents," he added.

Initially the strike call was only for the electronics and mobile phone markets in the Saddar area, Irfan said, adding that, electronic markets, especially mobile phone markets, joined the shutter down call across the city.

Meanwhile, the Preedy police have registered a case against the deceased robbers over the killing of the young shopkeeper. An FIR No 12/18 was registered at the Preedy police station on behalf of Owais's brother, Suleman. The police placed the sections of murder, attemptted murder, police encounter and robbery in the FIR. The complainant recorded in the FIR that the robbers had snatched at least three mobile phones from the shop and opened fire on his brother when he offered resistance, adding that following the incident, one robber was beaten to death by the crowd while another was killed in the exchange of fire with the police.

Seven criminals taken into custody in Karachi

In order to make sure that similar incidents do not take place in the future at markets in the Saddar area, the police deployment has been made at the markets and their surroundings, said Preedy SHO Israr Afridi. The officer added that the police will continue to be present at the markets on Sundays as street criminals usually take advantage of the force's absence on holidays.

COMMENTS (1)

Rafique Khan | 6 years ago | Reply There is no need for begging to PPP (Permanent Pludering Party) led Government in Sindh. The Traders must request to the Government for issuance of Arm license if not they can have non arm license to kill the robbers/snatchers in the city. It is due to law enforcement agencies are sleeping and enjoying their bhatas. During the MQM days all police departments were very smart to shift the street crimes to MQM. Now a days MQM is not active then why these crimes are on alarming rates in the metropolis. Before 10 years back my brand new car was snatched in Karachi on gun point. When I went to lodge report in local police station the concerned officer was asking me about the identity of the snatchers and insisting me to tell that urdu speaking is involved in this crime. I had informed them that they were not urdu speaking and mahajirs but Seraiki Pakistani guys.
Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ