QUETTA: Hundreds of traders in the provincial capital took out a protest rally on Tuesday against what they called illegal raids during the anti-smuggling campaign launched by the authorities.

The traders claimed that Customs, FBR, police and Frontier Corps raided their warehouses and seized goods worth billions of rupees.

The traders closed their businesses and gathered in the Satellite Town area from where the rally was led by Markazi Anjuman-i-Tajran Balochistan president Abdul Rahim Kakar and other traders unions’ leaders.

The protestors gathered in front of the Customs Intelligence office in Jinnah Town and staged a sit-in which was addressed by Mr Kakar and other leaders, including Hazrat Ali Achakzai, Mir Yasin Mengal, Haji Dawood Agha and others.

The speakers condemned the raids by FBR, Custom Intelligence, FC and police. They de­ma­nded that the goods seized during these raids should be immediately returned and the “unjust harassment” of traders be stopped.

They warned that traders would launch a strong protest, including a siege of the offices of FBR, Customs Intelligence and other agencies if their demands were not met.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2024