Traders assured financial help

KARACHI President Asif Ali Zardari has assured the traders leaders that every possible financial help would be given to the victims of Ashura day mayhem and the business community, whose shops were set on fire by miscreants in Karachi.
President Zardari said the arsonists, recognisable in the CCTV footages, would be brought to justice. He was talking to a delegation of the leaders of the business community at Bilawal House here on Wednesday. The businessmen apprised the President of the incidents of arsons and violence that erupted after the bomb blast overwhelming the Muharam procession on Monday evening, claiming 45 lives. The six-member delegation was led by Chairman Businessmen Group and former KCCI President, Siraj Kassam Teli, who briefed the President about the demands of the City traders.
Teli Quoted the President as saying that bomb blast in Karachi was a plan to destabilise the countrys economy. After meeting the President, Teli, told the media persons that the delegation briefed the President on behalf of the business community about the financial losses suffered by the traders in the mayhem.
Preliminary reports indicate that the traders suffered at least Rs6 billion losses, Mr Teli said, adding that they urged the President to release Rs3 billion on urgent basis for the traders.
According to Kassam Teli, the delegation of businessmen also demanded of the government to provide the site of Railway Ground on temporarily basis to facilitate the affected business community members to establish businesses afresh.
He also pleaded for providing financial relief to the victims who lost their entire businesses and properties in the tragic incident.
Siraj Teli termed the said the mayhem another bolt out of the blue after December 27 incident and demanded the arrest of saboteurs.
According to Teli, the President assured the delegation that culprits involved in the incidents of arson would be arrested. The President, he said, also termed the terror attack as anti-Pakistan and anti-government. According to Teli, the President also assured them of making all possible arrangements for the alternative business place on temporary basis. The President also said the government had established a fund for the traders affected by arsons. He also urged the philanthropists to contribute to the government fund for victims of Karachi blast.