KARACHI, Oct 19: Traders would give Azan (prayer calls) in markets and bazaars of the city from Friday as a token of protest against extortionists, rising dacoity bids and attacks on traders.

This was decided in a meeting of the All Pakistan Organisation of Small Traders and Cottage Industries, Karachi Division, held with Central Coordinator Mehboob Azam in the chair.

Addressing the representatives of the trading organisations, Mehmood Hamid said that presently vagabonds and extortionists were ruling the markets of Karachi. An amount of Rs10,000 was being extorted from each trader in the name of Zakat and Fitra, he charged.

He said that a trader and his son were killed in broad daylight for not paying extortion in Babar Market, Landhi. Besides, he said that 70 citizens, including a lady doctor, had been killed by cellphone snatchers.

They said that neither any responsible person in the government had ever met the bereaved family of the killed traders nor any financial compensation had been announced for them. He said that tall claims of the ministers and advisers against street crimes were nothing more than press statements.In these circumstances, the traders would give “Azans”, demanding security and shelter from Allah, the Almighty, from street criminals and extortionists, he added.

Mehboob Azam said that law and order situation was worsening in the city, while the poor vendors were being fined and sent to jails on charges of profiteering.—PPI