The shopkeeper was picked up by the CTD in a raid on Friday morning. STOCK IMAGE
Scores of shopkeepers belonging to Kutchery Bazaar staged a protest demonstration on Friday against the police over the arrest of a colleague.
Carrying banners and placards, the protesters gathered at Kutchery Bazaar Chowk and blocked traffic by staging a sit-in there.
Talking to newsmen, Mobile Phone Owners Association president Khalid Jatt said a police team had raided the market early on Friday morning and had arrested Waqar Ahmad, the owner of a mobile phone shop.
“We asked police team why he was being taken away but they did not answer,” Jatt said. “Instead, they hurled abuse at us and left.”
Jatt said police often raided the area looking for criminals. “Traders always cooperate with police on law and order,” he said. “If a colleague is being detained, we have a right to ask why he is being taken into custody.”
Jatt said Ahmad had set up his mobile phone shop in the area a few years ago. He said he was a familiar face for some traders who met him every day after closing shop.
“He is not involved in anything illegal, as far as we know,” he said. “Innocent civilians should not be harassed like this. His family does not know where he is and police are not telling.”
Later, a police team met the protesters and asked them to disperse. Traders were assured that their complaint would be looked into as soon as possible. Talking to The Express Tribune, a police spokesman said Ahmad had been taken into custody by a team of Counter Terrorism Department.
“They took him to an interrogation cell for questioning,” he said. “He will be released if he is not involved in terrorism.”
Rs.1.6 billion allocated to equip police with latest security gadgets; Law Minister
‘Police to get funds for security equipment’
Law Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan said that Rs1.6 billion had been allocated to equip police with latest security gadgets.
He said police performance was being monitored and strict action would be taken against negligent policemen.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2015.
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