Traders in the Manama suq are demanding protection from groups of vigilantes who have been forcing them to close and scaring off customers.

They say the absence of police from streets had created a sense of fear among citizens and could lead to them going bankrupt.

Pakistan Ambassador Ikramullah Mehsud yesterday pledged to raise the issue with the government to ensure there was better protection.

He was speaking during a meeting with community leaders and social workers to discuss the problem.

Scores of Pakistanis own businesses in the suq and many others live and work in the area.

'We have faced the brunt of attacks against innocent civilians in the last few days,' said Pakistani community leader Sajid Shaikh.

'We would like to get back to and carry on with our normal lives but when we do not see any police presence anywhere, we are apprehensive.'

Shaikh, who stressed the Pakistani community was speaking on behalf of every Bahrain resident, claimed the police had gone missing after attacks against suq traders and residents in the last few days.

'Calls to police stations are not answered and even if they are, we are directed to call another police station,' he said.

'This was not the case earlier when even a small skirmish had police there within minutes.

'We are not asking for much - all we want is a sense of security.'

Shaikh said some traders and residents had been threatened with sticks and others beaten.

He said traders were also forced to shut down their shops randomly by gangs of youngsters several times during the day.

'We open our shops and suddenly we find a gang coming and banging sticks on shutters and asking the shops to close,' said Shaikh.

'Within minutes, the market is deserted.

'We open again after a while and again this happens. What are we supposed to do?

'How will we get customers when youngsters wielding sticks run riot in shopping areas?

'We have to have confidence-building measures in place and the first step is increased security.'

A Bahraini textile dealer said his staff felt insecure in the face of attacks against expatriates. 'Late in the evening there are police patrols for a while but they soon go away,' he said. 'That is when we all feel very unsafe with no policeman in sight.'

Another Bahraini, who owns a large commercial complex in the area, said business finally seemed to be picking in the last few days, particularly in the gold business.

'However, their concerns about security are genuine because they do not feel secure,' he said.

Although businessman Qutub Dadabai does not have a store in the suq, he also called for increased security for shoppers and traders.

'Everyone has been going through a difficult phase but now is the time to get back to work and all must contribute,' said the Bahraini.

'If this continues for long, there will inevitably be job losses and that will be bad for the economy.'

Other traders complained they had not had a single customer in the more than a week since attacks started against expatriates.

'We are not exactly living in fear any more but we are concerned we may be attacked again,' said Quresh Khan Buneri, who runs a second-hand furniture store. 'We want the security forces to step up security.'

Another trader, who runs an electronic store, said all he had sold in the last week were phone cards.

'I might as well sit on a bench outside and do that,' said Mohammed Shakeel.

'Why do I need to pay the rent and the overheads?'

The Indian said he had been confronted by youngsters with sticks and iron rods several times and told to keep his shop closed.

'I have four staff, have to pay overheads and have a family to look after. How can I manage if I know I have nowhere to look at if I have a security issue?

'The government should immediately offer us security.'-TradeArabia News Service