KARACHI, June 12: The All Pakistan Organisation of Small Traders and Cottage Industries (APOSTCI) Sindh on Saturday strongly protested against the looting of Rs1.6 million from its president , and warned if the looted money was not recovered besides arresting the bandits, it will be compelled to initiate strong protest, including hunger strikes, all over the country.

President, APOSTCI Sindh Mashooq Ali Jatoi told a news conference at Karachi Press Club (KPC) that he drew U$27,000 (Rs1.6 million) on June 9, 2004 from a local bank branch located on I I Chundrigar Road, and when he reached near Old Queens Road, two armed bandits intercepted his car and looted the money.

He said he handed them one bundle of notes, but the banditsasked for more. "Bandits knew that how much money I was carrying, which proves that someone in the bank had tipped them," he added.

He said that a traders' convention would also be held, and if the problem was even not solved then, traders would stage a countrywide shutter down strike.-PPI