Chief of the Police Chamber Liaison Committee, Hafeez Aziz, has expressed serious concerns over the continued extortion of traders in Karachi, alleging a lack of action at the federal level.
Speaking to the media, Hafeez Aziz said he had formally written to Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, requesting the issuance of red warrants against extortionists targeting businessmen in Karachi. However, he claimed that not a single red warrant has been issued so far.
He stated that peace could be restored in Karachi within a week if authorities were given the required powers. “Even a police ASI could eliminate extortion if empowered. The issue is not awareness but authority,” he said, adding that intelligence agencies were well aware of those involved in extortion rackets.
Hafeez Aziz further said that traders primarily seek protection of life, questioning whom they should approach for security. He alleged that most extortion calls were being made from abroad, including Iran and other countries, and challenged the perpetrators to operate openly in Karachi.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Sindh, Ghulam Nabi Memon, said that police had compiled a detailed report on extortion cases involving builders, traders, and investors. According to the report, eight incidents of extortion were reported involving members of the Association of Builders and Developers (ABAD).
The report stated that the first incident occurred on September 27 in Malir, where a case was registered the same day at Malir City police station. During a raid at Qadri House on December 13, three suspects involved in extortion activities were arrested. Investigations revealed that extortion calls were made from Iranian numbers linked to the Wasiullah Lakho group.
The second extortion threat was reported on September 30 in Bahadurabad, again originating from an Iranian number. A suspect identified as Khizar was arrested, who allegedly used online applications to collect extortion money.
According to the police report, a third extortion call was made on December 2 from a Dubai-based number in the Soldier Bazaar area, resulting in one suspect being killed and five others arrested. A fourth call from an Iranian number was also reported later in December in the same area, leading to another arrest.
Further incidents included extortion calls from Iranian numbers in Saddar, Nigerian numbers targeting a builder in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, and another Nigerian-number call in Nazimabad, where Darakhshan police arrested the suspect. Additionally, a builder in the Garden area received an extortion call from a Philippine number.
Police said the Special Investigation Unit (SIU), in coordination with law enforcement agencies, arrested eight suspects belonging to the extortion gang.
IG Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon said police and other law enforcement agencies are working round the clock to eliminate crime in Karachi and assured that decisive results would be achieved soon.
