PESHAWAR, June 14: Local artistes on Tuesday urged Chief Minister Muhammad Akram Durrani, Governor Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai and police officials to arrest the who robbed the house of a TV artiste, Niaz Ali, on May 31.

The representatives of two groups of artistes told a press conference that they would hold a protest demonstration if arrests were not made and security was not provided to them.

Arshad Hussain, president of the Sarhad Artistes Association of Pakistan, said: “The civil society and police should provide protection to artistes as they provide them with entertainment and peace of mind.”

He regretted that no arrest had been made despite the passage of almost two weeks and no investigation carried out to trace the robbers who had taken away jewellery and other precious items worth Rs3 million from Niaz Ali’s house.

Senior artiste and president of the Artistes Welfare Association Zoom, Tariq Jamal, called upon the police authorities to take action against those involved in the robbery.

“More than 200 local artistes have shown serious concern over the pitiable incident. Artistes are regular taxpayers and yet deprived of their due rights. Niaz Ali’s loss should be compensated,” he demaned.

Shazma Aqeel expressed concern over the attitude of the city police “who seem to be least interested in tackling the issue”.