KARACHI, Sept 16: The KBCA's demolition squad in its on-going campaign against goldsmiths' workshops and furnaces set up in residential areas on Thursday sealed three more workshops and demolished two furnaces set up in a building on Zaibunnisa Street.

However, a law and order situation developed during the operation when a large number of workers and shop owners gathered around officials of the squad and tried to resist the action.

The protesters who also assembled around a camp set up on Zaibunnisa Street by the goldsmiths' union also resulted in the blockade of the major thoroughfare for about half-an-hour. Sensing danger, the officials of the KBCA fled the scene reportedly owing to inadequate number of policemen deployed there for providing security to them.

A spokeswoman for the KBCA said that though its demolition squad had to suspend work on Thursday because of inadequate number of policemen, it would continue sealing and demolishing all workshops and furnaces in residential buildings in Saddar.

Recalling that the campaign had been initiated on directives of the provincial ombudsman, she said the KBCA had already sealed more than 200 goldsmiths' workshops in Saddar this month.