He said that the government could give these compensation cheques to the traders who have lost businesses in December 28 arson without staging a show in the Sindh Chief Minister House, appearing that it was not aimed at healing their wounds rather for political goals.
He appeared much angry over the cheques distribution mechanism saying that there is a possibility of over 60 percent of the affected traders will receive much lower than their total losses. "The committee constituted for the compensation of December 28 arson-hit markets from the government badly lacked the true representation of the affectees," he said.
He alleged "the KCCI is not the representative body of the small traders and eyed on the billion of rupees aid," which the government had announced for rehabilitation of the destroyed businesses and markets. Atiq Mir said "it was a political show with the help of KCCI and is still unjustified in front of TV cameras. It hurt the feelings of small traders and is against their prestige."
Chairman of Old City Traders Alliance, Jamil Paracha dubbed the cheque distribution ceremony as "alms giving to beggars," which ultimately ended with a photo-session. He said that the traders had never thought of the way President Zardari gave away these compensation cheques, as "we were thinking that it will be secretly done." He quoted few affected traders who came to him with "tearful eyes," as saying "the government disheartened us in front of the whole nation."