RJ Mall shopkeepers stage sit-in

Shopkeepers term closure of their shops unjustified

KARACHI:

The shopkeepers of RJ Mall, which was severely affected by a huge fire, escalated their 17-day protest into a sit-in on Main Rashid Minhas Road, demanding the reopening of sealed shops on lower floors of the affected building.

The demonstration led to a road closure, hindered the flow of traffic. During the sit-in, shopkeepers, including men and women, voiced their demands, emphasising the immediate opening of their shops. Despite talks with SSP, the situation escalated and blockade continued.

The shopkeepers termed the closure of their shops unjustified. Danish Tareen, head of the RJ Mall Action Committee, maintained that the inferno affected the third and fourth floors, while there are 750 safe shops on lower floors which have been unjustifiably sealed.

Read Three more remanded to police custody in RJ Mall fire case

The police tried to detain some of the protesting shopkeepers, but the demonstrators escaped the attempts by the police.

Sharjeel Goplani, head of All Karachi City Traders Alliance, mentioned a meeting with Additional Commissioner II and assurances from Cantonment Board representatives and Assistant Commissioner Gulshan Iqbal. Following these assurances, the shopkeepers ended their sit-in and returned to their protest camp.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2023.