Voicing concerns: Traders stage protest against robberies

Protesters continue demonstration on second consecutive day

KARACHI: Traders and shopkeepers staged a protest on the second consecutive day in Liaquatabad, against the recent robberies that took place at various shops in the area.

The protesters gathered on main Liaquatabad Road near Firdous Shopping Centre and blocked the flow of traffic for hours, following the robbery incidents at nearly ten shops located near the shopping centre.

They shouted slogans against the police for their failure to stop such crimes and for not arresting the culprits.



The traders and shopkeepers claimed that they found the locks of at least ten shops broken, including poultry shops, plastic bags shops and general stores, when they came to work on Tuesday morning. They said that this was the second such incident in two consecutive days. Earlier, gold worth thousands of rupees was stolen from a jewellery shop in the same area on Monday.

Following the protest, a large contingent of police personnel reached the site and dispersed the protesters after assuring them of their cooperation.

Speaking about the robberies and initial investigation, Liaquatabad DSP Wajahat Hussain said that a new group of robbers are behind the series of robberies and are taking advantage of the absence of CCTV cameras and watchmen in the market.



The DSP added that the police did not find a single witness who could help the police in tracing and arresting the culprits. A case has been registered while further investigation is underway.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 25^th,  2015.