SARGODHA, March 3: Traders of almost all the important markets in the city went on strike on Thursday immediately after a fruit and vegetable market merchant was shot dead by two armed men in broad daylight.

Reports said Muhammad Hanif, a trader of the fruit and vegetable market, was returning home along with his son, Tauseef, carrying Rs500,000 when two motorcyclists stopped him.

They snatched the money and shot dead Hanif on resistance. Meanwhile, two fruit vendors chased the culprits and exchanged fire with them due to which the latter dropped the bag and pistol, and disappeared.

Saddar police have registered a case against the killers of Hanif, who was the brother of fruit and vegetable market Anjuman-i-Tajran President Mian Abdul Hafeez. The police also claimed that they had arrested some suspects, but the deceased's son could not identify the culprits as he was in shock.

Meanwhile, DPO Muhammad Naeem Khan has directed the police to deploy officials in uniform and plainclothes, especially at main shopping and commercial centres, to prevent any further crime.

He said he had deputed special teams to trace the killers of the trader. He said he also visited the bereaved family. Later, hundreds of traders blocked traffic on a road for two hours to register their protest.

They also voiced their concern against the police crackdown on motorcyclists without helmets. They said the directive was meant for only general public, as policemen considered themselves above law. They demanded immediate withdrawal of the directive which, they alleged, aimed at giving a boost to helmet business.

DEATH SENTENCE: Anti-Terrorism Court Special Judge Gulshad Alvi has awarded death sentence on two counts to a murder convict and acquitted three accused. The four people were charged with killing Mumtazullah Rokhri on Dec 9 last in front of the court of Mianwali Civil Judge Malik Muhammad Tariq.