Protest against arrests at fruit and vegetables market.

Byline: Afzal Ansari

KASUR -- Traders, commission agents, labourers and shopkeepers of the fruit and vegetable market staged a protest demonstration on College Road on Sunday against the district administration for arresting about a dozen of their colleagues for alleged overcharging during the last two days.

About 150 protesters ignored Section 144 and social distancing protocols and blocked the College Road near the fruit and vegetable market for about two hours, throwing the traffic out of gear.

The City police held several rounds of negotiations with the representatives of fruit market but failed. They also failed to ensure implementation of Section 144 and social distancing.

The charged protestors alleged that the administration, on the pretext of giving relief to the masses, was forcing hundreds of families associated with the Sabzi Mandi to starve. They said the administration could not bring down the prices by force and it should control the factors that increase the prices.

Muhammad Mushtaq, the president fruit and market committee, said the district administration was ignoring the ground realities and its only aim seemed to please the high-ups by showing the lowest prices. He said the administrations of Lahore, Kasur, Sheikhupura and Nankana Sahib districts were sending price lists to the chief secretary on a daily basis. He explained that the prices of fruit and vegetables were being kept down by force while...