KARACHI: The vegetable market traders on Wednesday announced that they would go on strike for an indefinite period on April 26 against lack of security and threats being hurled to them by Taliban and mafia operatives.

Fruit and Vegetable Market Association joint secretary Lala Rahim said the traders were forced to shut their businesses due to increased incidents of extortion and kidnapping for ransom.

He said several traders were abducted from the Sabzi Mandi and released after payment of ransom to Taliban and mafia groups.

He said a meeting was held with the deputy commissioner (East), Samiuddin Siddiqui, who had assured them of providing security. He said the lack of police patrolling in the area was creating a law and order situation.

“We are receiving death threats on a continuous basis but no government official pays heed towards our demand. However, soon after the announcement of our strike, deputy commissioner came to meet us,” he said.

Mr Rahim said the DC assured them that he would have a separate police station established for the Sabzi Mandi and boost deployment and patrolling of police on the Superhighway.

He said they had not yet decided to withdraw their strike call.

He demanded installation of CCTV cameras and deployment of police and Rangers in the Sabzi Mandi to protect traders. The broken roads towards the fruit market should be repaired to prevent robberies, he said.—PPI