KARACHI: Extortionists attacked two traders in Karachi in two separate incidents within a span of five minutes on Wednesday wounding one trader.

Alleged extortionists reached the shop of a bronze trader situated on Karachi's Lawrence Road in the old city area and opened fire after hurling threats on him.

The trader had received an extortion slip during the month of Ramazan and had failed to pay the demanded amount.

The shopkeeper sustained bullet wounds as a result of the attack. Police personnel reached the spot after the incident as a probe into the attack went underway.

Around 180 shops situated in the vicinity shut down to protests against the incident and demanded security from the government to run their businesses.

In another incident a hand grenade was lobbed at the residence of a trader in North Nazimabad's Hyderi Market area.

There was no loss of life reported in the incident. Police sources suspected that the attack was carried out threaten the trader into paying extortion money.