KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Friday announced that red notices would be issued to arrest members of foreign-based extortion gangs following reports of threats to traders, industrialists and property dealers in Karachi.
Speaking to the media outside the Sindh Assembly, the chief minister said discussions were underway with the federal government to bring members of the foreign extortion mafia back to Pakistan. He added that red warrants would be sought for the arrest of gang leaders operating from abroad.
The announcement came a day after Association of Builders and Developers of Pakistan chairman Mohammed Hassan Bakshi said Karachi’s business community was continuously receiving extortion chits and threatening phone calls. Murad said the provincial government had previously achieved success against extortion and was determined to do so again.
He also directed the police to take immediate action on complaints related to extortion and property encroachments.
Separately, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan expressed concern over recent extortion incidents and the harassment of traders, stressing the need for sustained government vigilance. Bakshi also called for strict and swift action against foreign-based gangs allegedly running an organised extortion network in the city.
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Speaking on a News programme, Bakshi said extortion calls had escalated into direct attacks on several occasions, resulting in killings. He claimed that extortionists were contacting victims from Iranian phone numbers and offering builders the option to continue construction by paying extortion money in instalments over four years, with Bitcoin also accepted as a mode of payment.
Bakshi questioned why red notices had not been issued earlier, alleging that five or six individuals linked to the Lyari Gang War had made life unbearable for Karachi’s business community.
Meanwhile, SSP Special Investigation Unit Imran Khan said police were conducting daily operations against extortion gangs. He said one extortionist was killed in an exchange of fire early on Friday, adding that the suspect’s mobile phone contained contact numbers of several traders.
According to the SSP, ten incidents involving builders were reviewed, with three cases formally registered so far. He said five incidents had not yet been reported, while investigations were ongoing in two cases.
Later, it emerged that the chief minister had written to the federal government, seeking assistance in arresting overseas members of the extortion mafia and urging authorities to approach Interpol for the issuance of red notices.
