News
Monday, October 25, 2010
Shershah market’s traders under threat once again
* Lyari’s gangsters warn of more attacks if market reopens
By Faraz Khan
KARACHI: Traders and shopkeepers of the Shershah market are once again under threat as Lyari’s gangsters have warned them of more attacks if they reopen the market, Daily Times learnt on Sunday.
A score of traders and shopkeepers staged a protest against Lyari’s gangsters as well as the law enforcement agencies (LEAs). Headed by the market association’s president Zahid Khan, they took out a rally from Sohrab Goth to Dak Khana Chowrangi in Liaquatabad Town.
Carrying placards and banners, the enraged protesters chanted slogans against the government, demanding immediate justice. They said they were not satisfied with the performance of the law enforcers as despite their presence, the gangsters were freely moving through the market and frequently threatening them.
“The gangsters attacked the market and killed a dozen of our associates in the presence of the police and Rangers. And despite a number of law enforcers deputed there, the gangsters have warned us of more attacks via wall-chalking,” a protester said. A shopkeeper said the wall-chalking had exposed the failure of the law enforcers and made it clear that the traders’ lives were still under threat.
He said the police high-ups had told them that Shershah incident’s prime suspect Baba Ladla had been arrested and it was safe to reopen the market, as security would be provided to them.
“However, there is no proof that Baba Ladla has been arrested. The police must bring Baba Ladla before the media if they have really arrested him,” he added.
Another shopkeeper said Baba Ladla had not been arrested and it was Baba Ladla who had sent his men for wall-chalking to increase fear among the market’s traders.
The protesters said the LEAs were unable to do anything in the gangsters’ case because of political pressure. They said all gangsters were living freely in Lyari without any fear of being captured because of their connections with the higher hierarchy in the government. The traders said if the gangsters opened fire in the market, killing 12 people, and then returned for wall-checking in the presence of the police and Rangers, then they can carry out an attack again.
West Zone Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Sultan Khwaja told Daily Times that there was no progress in the case. “We have not arrested anyone yet, but we have ascertained that four sub-machine guns, four 9mm pistols and a .30 bore pistol were used in the incident,” he said.
The DIG said police have set up various check-posts and increased patrolling in the locality to avert any further incident. “Action will be taken against the people behind the wall-chalking. The scrap dealers have nothing to worry about since the police and Rangers will protect them at all costs,” he added.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk