FAISALABAD: Traders have condemned registration of a case on theft and other allegations against two dozen shopkeepers and vendors of Kutchery Bazaar.

The Rail Bazaar police on Wednesday night registered a case under section148,149,186, 343, 353 and 379 of PPC against the shopkeepers on the complaint of traffic warden Mudassar Waseem, in-charge Clock Tower traffic sector.

The warden claimed that he was on duty at Kutchery Bazaar when 15 to 16 traders including Shal(eel, Qarar Haider, Waseem, Ikram and Toufig started chanting slogans against the parking system, blocl(ed the road to traffic, tried to manhandle him and snatched the challan book.

Traders alleged that earlier the Civil Defence, TMA, police and traffic wardens impounded motorcycles and police beat some of them.

Nasir, a trader of the bazaar, said everyone knew that wardens and police had subjected the traders to torture and police registered a case instead of ensuring justice.

They said protest was the constitutional right of every Pakistani citizen, however, the DCO had got registered a case only to teach a lesson to the traders who had raised the parking lot issue.

The district government had set up barriers at Kutchery Bazaar and handed it over to the Parking Company to look after the parking affairs. However, the traders protested against the arrangement and the district government had to withdraw it.

Another trader said the case against the traders was based on concocted report as shopkeepers had just protested for their right and did not manhandle any warden.

The DCO has denied police torture of traders and said an operation was conducted to clear encroachment.