KARACHI, April 21: An ongoing tussle between two provincial ministers is likely to mar the government efforts towards containing the sale/purchase of stolen mobile phone sets. Sources in the police department and the electronics market said that the stakes in the sale/ purchase of snatched and stolen mobile phone were now too high involving substantial monetary turnover on a daily basis.

An investigation carried out by Dawn revealed that the recent raids on some shops and subsequent arrest of some traders in the Electronics Market, Saddar, on Tuesday were also an upshot of the tussle between the ministers.

Sources in the provincial government said that the tussle was going on for the past several months over the illicit trading in stolen mobile phones in the market. One of the ministers, who appeared keen in containing the sale/purchase of stolen cell phones, ordered the police to take appropriate measures to check the practice. He had also ordered action against the shopkeepers found involved in the illegal business.

Subsequently, a new software was designed and launched in January this year to keep a check on theft of mobile phones. All shopkeepers dealing in mobile phones had been asked to follow the laid down procedures in this regard and avoid purchasing any cell phone set without ensuring that the same was not acquired illegally. The advice contained a warning that any violation in this regard could lead to police action.

On the directive of the minister, a special police team was formed to contain the growing incidents of cell phone robberies. Campaigns were launched to encourage people to lodge their complaints either directly with police or through the computer software.

The statistics viz-a-viz the complaints lodged since then show that 35-40 mobile phone sets are snatched/stolen every day.

The sources, however, prepared a report in the light of the statements of many arrested snatchers, and revealed that a big chunk of the stolen cell phones was being traded in the Electronics Market, Saddar.

The report was forwarded to the higher police authorities and the minister as well. On the basis of this report, the police conducted raids and arrested three shopkeepers on Tuesday last for dealing in stolen cell phones.

The raids and arrests were, however, resisted by shopkeepers and traders in the market. Some office-bearers and members of the Karachi Electronics Dealers Association (KEDA) also tried to stop the police from taking away the suspected shopkeepers. The police claimed that they had evidence against the shopkeepers’ involvement as the raids had been conducted on the basis of the information ascertained from some arrested robbers.

However, a law and order situation was created and the market was closed on Tuesday evening. A vehicle belonging to the Governor’s House was torched by protesters and bonfire was lit on road. The police picked up at least 30 traders, including KEDA President Waheed Memon, following the violence.

Sources said that a high-level meeting was held late on Tuesday night at the Chief Minister’s House where Mr Memon’s point of view was heard.

Later, it was decided to produce all the arrested traders before court. The police were directed to follow the course of law and arrest anyone found involved in the illegal trading. The government would not come under pressure of those creating law and order situation, the meeting observed.

The sources said that on early Wednesday, however, another minister arranged a meeting at the Governor’s House to discuss the whole affair. Mr Waheed Memon was heard at this meeting also. Following the meeting, order for the release of all the 30 traders arrested on Tuesday was issued.

At the same meeting, the orders for the release of transporters of All Pakistan Oil Tankers Association were also issued. The transporters had been picked up early this month for creating a law and order situation in Shireen Jinnah Colony. It was argued at the meeting that there was no justification for keeping them in jail while the electronics traders had been released.

Meanwhile, a six-member KEDA delegation, led by Mr Waheed Memon, called on Sindh Minister for Industries, Labour and Transport Mohammad Adil Siddiqui at his office on Thursday and apprised him of the problems being faced by electronics traders, adds PPI.

After negotiations with the minister, Mr Waheed Memon, Shahid Ali Sehar and other KEDA office-bearers announced their decision to withdraw the strike call for Saturday in the electronic market.