City mourns Karachi carnage victims

Trade and commercial activities remained suspended in the city on Thursday to mourn the deaths of Ismaili community members who were killed in Wednesday's terrorists attack in Safoora Goth. Educational institutions also remained closed and examinations were postponed while there was thin public and goods transport on roads.
Petrol and CNG pumps had put up steel barriers to shield them against acts of vandalism on main roads that also diminished the prospects of carrying out daily social and economic activities in the metropolis. Traders and transporters also stepped back to open markets in downtown and other areas after the tragic incident. All Karachi Tajir Ittehad chairman Atiq Mir told Business Recorder that traders were left with no option, but to keep their businesses shut to mourn deaths of the victims of the tragic incident.
With a firm distrust in the PPP's Sindh government and police, he said: "Peace could only be restored to the city if Rangers are equipped well with an increased number of personnel to carry out the operation against hardened criminals and terrorists. "The trade suffered at least Rs 4.5 billion losses for one day closure," he said, adding that "the terrorists were indeed anti-Pakistan forces whose planning worked successfully to damage the country's reputation and fragile peace".
Entire city's trade was suspended to show solidarity with the families of the victims of Wednesday's tragic incident, he said, adding that the prospects of peace in the city are still dim despite law enforcers' efforts. "The police cannot do it. It does not have the capacity and will. Army Chief has to do it as he did in Fata to wipe out the terrorism dens," he opined.
He said that the traders had pinned hopes on the CoAS to correct the civil administration in the province, adding that the `chaotic' police was no better than a `scarecrow' as panic and apprehensions continued to haunt the citizens and businessmen community for want of peace. "Police is now a discredited institution," he said, adding that the government should hand over a complete charge to the Rangers to restore peace in the city, he added.