Small traders oppose anti-encroachment drive in district South

KARACHI: The leadership of the All Pakistan Organisation of Small Traders and Cottage Industries has condemned the ongoing anti-encroachment operation in District South, alleging that a trader was subjected to electric shocks while in custody, threatening to launch a protest movement starting Wednesday if the sealing of shops continues. The traders’ demands and allegations were detailed in a statement issued by President Mahmood Hamid, Vice President Javed Abdullah, General Secretary Naveed Ahmed, Usman Sharif, and Saleem Malik. They termed the current anti-encroachment operation in District South an “anti-trader and anti-economy” and demanded its immediate cessation. They alleged that the operation has resulted in the widespread sealing of commercial properties and the imposition of fines without the issuance of proper receipts. Central to their grievance is an incident allegedly involving Assistant Commissioner of Aram Bagh. The trader representatives claim that a trader was arrested and brought to the assistant commissioner’s office, where he was allegedly confined and tortured. They alleged that the trader was subjected to electric shocks. They described the alleged act as illegal and intolerable, formally calling for a judicial inquiry into the matter. The traders further asserted that the administrative and municipal authorities bear primary responsibility for the existence of encroachments. They claimed that officials from the administration, police, and the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) accept bribes to allow the placement of pushcarts and stalls. When operations commence, these officials allegedly provide prior warning to have these specific encroachments removed, while formal FIRs are filed against established shop owners and their businesses are sealed. The organisation highlighted that traders in Karachi contribute approximately 70 percent of the megacity’s revenue, yet remain deprived of essential civic amenities. They cited persistent issues such as electricity load-shedding, broken road infrastructure, and a general lack of facilities. They issued a firm ultimatum: if the operation is not halted, and if the practice of sealing shops and collecting fines without providing receipts does not stop, a protest movement will commence on Wednesday. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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