Traders protest at New Sabzi Mandi after commission agent injured in robbery

By Our Correspondent
April 17, 2025
A representational image showing a protest. — AFP/File
A representational image showing a protest. — AFP/File

Armed robbers stormed a trader’s shop at New Sabzi Mandi on the Super Highway on Wednesday, looting hundreds of thousands of rupees and mobile phones before opening fire and injuring a commission agent.

The suspects managed to flee the scene, prompting a strong protest from traders demanding immediate arrests. The incident occurred early in the morning within the jurisdiction of the SITE Super Highway police station. Two unidentified motorcyclists entered the Mohmand Shed and targeted the shop of vegetable trader and commission agent Seth Bilal Gujarati.

At gunpoint, the assailants looted cash estimated in the hundreds of thousands of rupees along with mobile phones. When faced with resistance, the robbers opened fire, injuring 30-year-old commission agent Abdul Kareem, son of Yaqoob, who was present at the shop. He was taken to a nearby private hospital for treatment.

Following the robbery, the police personnel from a nearby checkpoint, along with the SHO, arrived at the scene and began collecting information about the suspects. In response to the incident, a large number of traders gathered and staged a protest. Hundreds of commission agents and labourers also assembled at the New Sabzi Mandi police post to express their outrage.

Haji Azeem Khan, Chairman of the Karachi Vegetable Traders Welfare Federation and Vice President of the Pakistan Civil Soldier Movement and Organisation Sindh, addressed the crowd. He urged the traders and workers to remain peaceful and called on authorities to arrest the culprits without delay and ensure legal action against them.

Traders reported that the injured man had arrived at Bilal Gujarati’s shop to settle a payment when the robbery took place. While some claimed the robbers looted between Rs400,000 to Rs500,000, the police confirmed that Rs200,000 and a mobile phone were taken. Authorities added that evidence and CCTV footage were being reviewed to identify and apprehend the suspects. Further investigation is underway.