MARDAN: Local traders took to the streets to protest snatching of Rs0.4 million by robbers from a shopkeeper near the old fruit and vegetable market here on Saturday.

The protesting traders were led by president of Mardan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Zahir Shah Khan. They blocked the Pakistan Chowk to vehicular traffic for several hours to protest the robbery.

Addressing the traders, Zahir Shah criticised the police and provincial government for failing to provide security to the traders.

He demanded arrest of the robbers, recovery of the looted money and provision of foolproof security to the traders.

The protesters gave a three-day ultimatum to the authorities concerned to arrest the robbers, otherwise they would block the Mardan-Malakand road.

They also hit out at the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led provincial government for failing to provide peaceful environment which was mandatory for boosting trade and commerce activities in the province.

Officials at Hoti police station said Sultan Khan, a fruit and vegetable agent, was going to some work when three robbers riding two bikes intercepted him near fruit vegetable market and snatched Rs0.4 million from him at gunpoint.

The police lodged FIR against unknown robbers on the complaint of the trader and began making efforts to arrest them.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2015