DADU: Members of business community, their sympathisers and activists of Sindh United Party observed a shutdown strike in Bhan Sayedabad town on Tuesday and staged a demonstration at Shahani Chowk on the Indus Highway in protest against police failure to rein in criminals.

The protest was triggered by a major theft late last night in a cement shop at Shahani Chowk on the town’s main road, in which thieves cut through the shop’s roof and decamped with Rs1 million cash.

The protesters led by the affected shop owner Asghar Radhan, SUP district president Darya Khan Laghari and others expressed serious concerns over worsening security situation in the town and demanded urgent intervention to restore peace and protect businesses from rampant crimes.

Asghar Radhan vented his frustration, stating: “This is the third time our shop has been robbed, and the police have failed to recover any of the stolen goods. This is great injustice to us as shopkeepers.”

Local SUP leaders said that police were negligent of their duties and were least interested in addressing the situation, leaving citizens at the mercy of criminals.

They called on Hyderabad DIG to take notice of growing lawlessness in the town and ensure protection to business community as well as members of general public.

They warned if the government did not pay heed to their concerns and failed to take any action to restore peace on the streets, they would be forced to expand their agitation.

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2024