In a desperate move, traders on Thursday linked paying of taxes to the government with protection of their life, properties and businesses, saying that they are now more 'vulnerable' to street criminals than ever, as police showed no response to the surge in robberies and killings in the metropolis.
"Scores of traders have already moved to other peaceful cities of the country in wake of the alarming rise in crimes in the city as law enforces miserably failed to curb the crimes," said Chairman All Karachi Tajir Ittehad (AKTI), Atiq Mir during a press conference at Karachi Press Club.
He said the rising street crimes have engulfed local markets of the metropolis, as some of the business centres had become centres of the outlaws' activities, who loot the traders with impunity on daily basis. "Robbery, kidnapping for ransom and extortion have become order of the day in the city, which expose the tall claims of the government about maintaining law and order in the metropolis," AKTI chairman said.
He said that the traders had been complaining to the government frequently about the alarming rise in street crimes in markets, which had made difficult for the traders to continue their businesses in present circumstances. But despite that the government remained unmoved, he deplored.
In 2005, a community police centre was established at Timber Market to protect the traders and public from the street criminals but the police never performed its duty, he said. "Timber Market is of the most affected areas," Atiq Mir said, alleging police personnel were assisting the criminals in the old city area. He urged the government to step up efforts to protect the business community in the greater interest of the nation. President Karachi Timber Merchants Group, Haji Suleman Soomro, Vice President Abdul Hameed Bagla, Joint Secretary Zahid Peerani and Chairman Old City Traders Alliance, Jamil Paracha were also present on the occasion.