LARKANA: A day after a gang of 10 outlaws staged an armed hold-up in Warah town’s main bazaar, local traders and shopkeepers resumed their strike and sit-in on Monday morning.

Qambar-Shahdadkot SSP Sajid Amir Sadozai, in the evening, persuaded the protesters to postpone the strike and sit-in, promising that the outlaws would be arrested within the next five days.

The protest was started on a call given by the association of local traders. While shopkeepers had pulled down the shutters in the bazaar soon after the Sunday hold-up, trade, business and commercial activities across Warah town remained suspended in response to the call.

Protesters resumed their sit-in at Fazil Rahu Chowk on Monday morning and kept raising slogans for the immediate arrest of the outlaws and recovery of their looted money and belongings.

It was perhaps a rare hold-up ever witnessed by the town when 10 heavily armed outlaws riding several motorcycles stormed the bazaar and first terrorised traders, shopkeepers, customers and other people present there by resorting to heavy aerial firing. They then held many shopkeepers at gunpoint and deprived them and many other people of cash, mobile phones and other belongings.

During their shooting and looting spree, a police patrol led by SHO Ali Hassan Mahar tried to overpower the outlaws but came under fire, which left him and ASI Allah Warayo Bhangar wounded.

The gangsters sped away, ostensibly into the riverine area. A strong police contingent riding armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and other vehicles was sent into the area to apprehend the fleeing outlaws a little after they escaped.

Tension and fury gripped the town and enraged people, mainly traders and shopkeepers, gathered at the Fazil Rahu Chowk to hold a sit-in, which continued into late evening.

They resumed the sit-in on Monday evening. Local Pakistan People Party (PPP) leaders and activists Nawabzada Lashkar Khan Chandio, Riaz Abro, Ghaffar Brohi, Tariq Chandio and others also sat with the protesters to express their solidarity with the participants.

Vehicular traffic in the area remained suspended during the course of the sit-in.

Realising gravity of the situation, SSP Sadozai proceeded to the sit-in venue and held negotiations with leaders of the protesters. He requested them to allow police a five days’ time for the arrest of the outlaws, claiming that they had since been identified and would be arrested soon.

Accepting his request, the protesters postponed the strike and sit-in until October 11. They warned that if the issue was not resolved by then, they would launch an intense movement.

Earlier, addressing the protesters, president of the traders’ association Mohammad Panhal Abbasi, Zaheer Chandio, Sartaj Chandio, Maulvi Mohammad Siddiq Mangnejo, Manzoor Marfani, Sadiq Tunio, Abdul Hakim Bughio and others lamented that the outlaws had “held the entire town hostage”, looted cash and valuables worth millions of rupees and managed to escape which raised a question on performance of the police.

Meanwhile, SI Mohammed Ayub Mahoto has lodged FIR (No. 137/2025) at the Warah police station against 12 unknown suspects under Sections 395, 324, 353, 440, 148, 149, 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Sections 6/7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

Separately, members of the local legal fraternity also boycotted court proceedings and held a demonstration over the lawlessness in Warah. They were led by Ayaz Khuhawar. They condemned the ‘act of terrorism’ and looting spree in broad daylight. They demanded deployment of Rangers in Warrah to contain crime.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2025