KARACHI, Jan 28: More than 30 electronics markets across the city remained closed in the first half of the day on Monday in ‘protest against the targeted killing’ of senior trader leader Muhammad Irfan.

The traders said they observed ‘a day of mourning as well as lodged their protest’ by keeping the markets closed in every city district and demanded that the government arrest the killers of their leader.

“It’s so unfortunate that leaders of the traders, who are already facing insecurity and extortion, are now being targeted,” said Jameel Paracha of the Sindh Tajir Ittehad. “The situation has put a serious question mark over the performance and utility of the security administration.”

Muhammad Irfan was attacked near Abdullah College on Jan 24 when he was driving home with his son. Though the investigators are still not sure that the killing of the trader was a murder or the result of an armed mugging attempt, his colleagues and traders’ association saw it as ‘targeted killing’.

“I have talked to his family members and even the son who was driving the car when it came under attack. They ruled out any robbery attempt and said it was a deliberate killing and we also believe so. If the police have enough evidence that it was a mugging attempt, they should further investigate the incident and arrest the culprits,” said Mr Paracha.

He said the markets resumed business after Mr Irfan’s funeral prayers in North Nazimabad following a unanimous decision of all market associations.