FAISALABAD, Jan 19: Robbers took away hundreds of thousands of rupees in cash and gold, stole two cars and two motorcycles in 14 strikes in the city and rural areas during the last 24 hours.

Robbers took away gold ornaments worth Rs2 million, thousands of rupees in cash and other household articles from the house of trader Riaz Khan in the People's Colony.

Five masked men robbed thousands of rupees in cash and other valuables from the house of Jamil Ahmad in Ghulam Muhammadabad. Two masked robbers snatched thousands of rupees in cash and calling cards worth Rs10,000 from the operator of a public call office in Gulberg.

Four gunmen looted cash and household articles worth Rs90,000 from the house of Shakoor Ahmad in Chak 510 GB in Mamukanjan. Three robbers escaped with cash and gold ornaments worth Rs80,000 from the house of shopkeeper Nazar Husain in Jaranwala.

A gang of highwaymen robbed over a dozen people of cash and other valuables worth thousands of rupees near by-pass in the Thikriwala police jurisdiction. Four bandits looted cash and gold ornaments from the house of Amin in Nishatabad.

Armed men took away gold ornaments and household articles worth thousands of rupees from the house of Yaqoob in Chak 48 JB. Thieves stole medicines worth Rs100,000 and other valuables by unlocking two drug shops in Samundri.

Swindlers deprived trader Akbar Ali of cash and valuables at the general bus stand. Cattle-lifters escaped with 12 sheep from the out-house of farmer Ijaz Ahmad in Chak 8 JB, Nishatabad.

The taxi of (FDW-7484) Navid Ahmad was driven away by unidentified men from Barnala Road. The car (FS-456) of Tahir Latif was stolen from outside the FDA offices on Regency Road. Two motorcycles (FDX-2773 and FDX-5559) were taken away from the house of Sheikh Aslam on Sargodha Road.

TOLL: The local trade organizations have criticized the district government decision to impose toll tax on five major roads. Officials of the trade bodies told newsmen at a press conference on Monday that all the shops would be shuttered if the district government did not withdraw its decision immediately.

The officials included the zonal chairman of the recently set-up All Pakistan Traders Association, Nawaz Vohra, Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association chairman Munawar A. Sheikh and All Pakistan Anjuman Tajiran secretary-general Sheikh Bashir Ahmad.

They said the decision was not only against the interests of the traders but also a burden on the consumers. They also condemned the decision of the government to increase water tariff and the property tax. Nawaz Vohra said that over 40,000 small traders of the country had constituted the All Pakistan Traders Association.