KARACHI: Members of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and traders of Karachi protested on Friday against incidents of extortion, announcing the observance of a “Black Day” protest on Saturday, DawnNews reported.

The MQM staged a walk out from the Sindh Assembly.

Speaking to the media representatives during the protest, MQM leaders Waseem Akhtar and Syed Haider Abbas Rizvi said the only person who could address and solve this issue is President Asif Ali Zardari.

“Recruitments in police are being made on the recommendation of extortionists. The Sindh government has failed miserably. Only President Zardari can solve Karachi's problems,” said Haider Abbas.

Waseem Akhtar said that the time for discussion has been over and now it is time to act against the extortionists.

“Traders’ children are being kidnapped for ransom and more than 60 have been kidnapped so far,” he said.

“Business and industry has come to a halt in Karachi. The prime minister is helpless… he cannot solve these problems. Only the president can do something. We demand that President Zardari take this issue seriously,” said Akhtar.

Another MQM leader, Faisal Sabzwari, said that if extortion related activities were not put to a halt then MQM might consider boycotting the joint session of both the House of the Parliament on March 17 to be addressed by President Zardari if the government did not take concrete steps to rein in the extortion activities.

Earlier on Thursday, the MQM had also staged a walkout from the National Assembly in protest on the same grounds.