PESHAWAR, Feb 23: A Pakistan gems trader has requested the Turkish government and the Pakistani embassy in Turkey to help him recover his dues against an Istanbul-based company and provide him life protection.

The trader, Mohammad Azam, alleged that a few days ago in Istanbul, he was maltreated by the owner of the said company who was reluctant to settle the dues.

Najmul Hassan, a business partner of Mr Azam, told newsmen that his company, Sana Traders, had entered into a deal with the Turkish firm for exporting precious and semi-precious stones.

He said that in an appeal sent to the Pakistani Embassy in Turkey as well as the Turkish government, Mr Azam wrote that a Turkish businessman, Efe Fatih Karakaplan, had come to Pakistan a couple of months back and purchased material from him.

Mr Efe’s company Efe Silver was located in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar market.

“After shipment of the material, Mr Efe went back to Turkey but did not send the money as per the terms of payments agreed. Instead, he asked Mr Azam to come to Istanbul and collect the money,” Mr Hassan told newsmen.

He said Mr Azam had been in Turkey for 40 days, but Mr Efe was reluctant to settle the dues.

On February 17, Mr Efe asked Mr Azam to visit his shop and collect the dues, but when he went there, Mr Efe and his three companions attacked him.

Timely action from one of his friends from India helped him escape from there, Mr Hassan said.