Armed robbers in Pakistan stole more than 200 outfits made for the Eid Al Fitr holiday from a tailor's shop in the capital Islamabad after tying up and beating members of staff.
Muhammad Razzaq said the robbers barged into his shop and made off with 240 completed or near-finished shalwar kameez — Pakistan's national dress.
"The police have not been able to find any clue to the ruthless guys who turned this Eid for me into a nightmare," Mr Razzaq said.
The value of the stolen clothes was more than 720,000 rupees ($4,000), he said.
Eid Al Fitr preparations around the world — in pictures
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A girl looks at bangles as people shop for Eid Al Fitr in Karachi, Pakistan. AP -
A worker prepares vermicelli, a sweet dish traditionally served during the holiday, in Allahabad, India. Getty Images -
Palestinian workers at a factory in Jabalia prepare sweets known as "halkoum", to be sold before Eid Al Fitr, in Gaza City. Getty Images -
Festive lighting decorates the streets in Geylang Serai, before Eid Al Fitr, also known as Hari Raya Puasa, in Singapore. Reuters -
A broken-down car on a motorway as Malaysian Muslims travel home to celebrate Eid Al Fitr, in Gombak, Malaysia, April 29, 2022. Picture taken with long exposure. Reuters -
Decorative lights for Eid celebrations, at the World Trade Centre roundabout in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National -
Preparing sweets in the old city of Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Reuters -
Shoppers throng a market in Karachi, Pakistan. EPA -
Trying on second-hand clothes before Eid Al Fitr in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA -
Shopping for clothes in preparation for Eid Al Fitr in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Reuters -
A Yemeni prepares decorated Arabic tables for sale ahead of Eid Al Fitr. EPA -
Syrians shop at a market in Raqa as Muslims prepare to celebrate Eid. AFP -
The Eid Al Fitr holiday marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. AFP -
Yemenis buy Eid clothes in a mall in the capital Sanaa. AFP -
Eid shoppers in Srinagar, India. EPA -
Fruit and veg on sale at the Waterfront Market in Deira, Dubai, before the Eid Al Fitr holidays. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
People wait to buy train tickets before the holiday at Kamalapur station in Dhaka, Bangladesh. EPA -
Palestinian women in Hebron make traditional date and nut-filled biscuits in preparation for Eid Al Fitr. AFP -
Passengers wait for trains to their home villages at the Senen station in Jakarta, Indonesia. AP -
A traffic jam in Jakarta as Indonesian Muslims return to their hometowns for Eid Al Fitr, known locally as ‘Mudik’. Reuters -
A jewellery showroom before Eid Al Fitr in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. AFP -
Omanis shop for Eid Al Fitr gifts in the governorate of Samail, about 80 kilometres south-west of Muscat. AFP -
A tailor sewing garments for Eid Al Fitr in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA -
Cattle for sale at a market in Aceh, Indonesia. EPA -
Yemeni sweet sellers wait for customers at a market in Sanaa. EPA -
A worker cleans up a street before Eid Al Fitr in the old city of Sanaa, Yemen. EPA -
Mackerel-smoking before Eid at a workshop in Rafah. AFP -
Palestinian children with toys given to celebrate Eid Al Fitr in the West Bank. EPA -
Vermicelli-drying in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA -
Shopping for Eid Al Fitr at a market in Karachi, Pakistan. EPA -
A cobbler makes traditional Peshawari chappal shoes before Eid Al Fitr in Peshawar, Pakistan. EPA -
Customers shopping for fish at the Waterfront Market in Deira, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Muslims around the world usually buy new outfits and jewellery for Eid Al Fitr, with tailor-made outfits an affordable option for many.
The Eid festival is expected to begin on Monday or Tuesday in Pakistan, depending on the sighting of the new moon.
Most of the shelves in Mr Razzaq's shop were empty on Friday as he sat disconsolately behind a sewing machine.
"I have been working in the area for the last 20 years and have customers who come to me from posh areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi with branded and expensive fabrics," he said.
Salman Ashraf, one of the tailors tied up during the raid, said the robbers were aggressive.
"The gunmen thrashed us, tied us with ropes and asked us to remain silent," he said.
Police said they were investigating the incident.
