DERA MURAD JAMALI: The business community of Dera Allahyar on Thursday staged a sit-in against the increasing incidents of theft and robbery in the district and blocked the National Highway, suspending traffic for several hours.

The traders gathered at the Zero Point in Dera Allahyar and blocked the highway.

They said armed robbers entered a petrol pump the other day in Allahyar town and snatched Rs8.8 million from its owner, Fahad Khosa, and injured his brother when he resisted the robbery.

They said that despite repeated demands from business community for protection, local authorities have done nothing practically and that has emboldened the criminals and now they are committing crimes in the area with impunity.

Long queues of passenger buses, trucks and other vehicles were witnessed on both sides of Dera Allahyar, causing difficulties for the commuting people.

The protesters said that lawlessness has increased in the area and people feel insecure even in the day.

Jaffarabad SSP Faryal Farid, along with DSP Muhammad Dawood Khosa and officials of the local administration, held negotiations with protesters.

She assured them that all possible steps will be taken to arrest robbers who looted the petrol pump and security will be tightened in the area.

After the assurance, the demonstrators called off their sit-in and road was opened for traffic.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2024