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KARACHI: While business activities in the city on Tuesday remained suspended due to a strike called by the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad against ‘extortion mafia’, dozens of protesting traders brawled over the issue at the Polo Ground where people sticking to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry stand had gathered to hold a white flag march. The KCCI had earlier on Monday deferred its strike to next week after receiving guarantees from the government over traders’ security and action against extortionists.
Almost every retail and wholesale market in the city remained closed due to the strike that was supported by political parties including those in the coalition set-up — the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Awami National Party. Unlike strike calls given by the political parties, the one by traders caused closure of retail shops even in residential areas.
Similarly, all major commercial centres remained shuttered in every part of the city. The downtown area in southern district wore a deserted look with the complete closure of businesses in Saddar, Kharadar, Boulton Market, Juna Market, along Akbar Road and M.A. Jinnah Road.
At more than a dozen places, traders staged protest demonstrations by blocking roads with burning tyres. Hundreds of traders emerged at Nagan Chowrangi, Liaquatabad, Hasan Square, Clifton and even on the city’s busiest thoroughfare, Sharea Faisal, to lodge their protest against the extortion menace.
The situation turned ugly when a large number of protesters after staging protest demonstrations near Fresco Chowk and outside the Karachi Press Club moved to the Polo Ground, where dozens of traders and industrialists sticking by the KCCI had gathered to stage a ‘white flag march’ to lodge their protest after the withdrawal of the strike call.
KCCI office-bearers and other business leaders were speaking to the media at the Polo Ground to explain their position when the protesting traders associated with the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad, led by senior member Ateeq Meer, stormed into the park.
The sudden appearance of small traders triggered a heated debate from the two sides and both blamed each other for damaging ‘the real cause’ of the strike.
Violent scenes were witnessed when members from both the sides became involved in a scuffle while using sticks and chairs to attack each other. A few were also seen bleeding with serious wounds on their heads.
The episode lasted for over an hour as traders left the place by the evening following an intervention by police.
“Our protest was not aimed at politicising the issue but unfortunately some of our colleagues toed the political line,” said Siraj Kassam Teli, the business leader and former KCCI president, told reporters before his show turned into a mess.
“We are as against extortion as small traders or any other citizen but offered time to the government to take action before we reach some decisive strategy. Some business leaders hijacked the issue that had been highlighted in fact by the KCCI initially.”
Ateeq Meer of the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad admitted that the clash between the groups of traders was ‘unfortunate’ but he was determined to label the KCCI campaign against extortion a ‘failure’.
He said: “We were left with no other option but to protest. What else can we do except to call a strike? The government assurances cited by the KCCI were being heard for quite long, with no action on ground.”
However, he said, he would like to take all traders and industrialists on board if they reviewed their strategy against extortion, which was mainly affecting the small traders.
Amid the closure of business activities in the city, public transport on roads also remained scant.
The transporters said they had nothing to do with the strike but a large number of their colleagues avoided bringing vehicles on roads due to least business opportunities in the situation.
“We hardly manage regular business operation due to inflated fuel prices. Any kind of strike in Karachi leads to serious cuts in business, which remains the main reason that a large number of transporters did not operate today,” said Irshad Bukhari of the Karachi Transport Ittehad.
