Statistics and the spiral of crime

Soul-searching is needed as extortion cases resurface in K-P.

PESHAWAR: If statistics could reduce crime, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa would be the most peaceful place on earth.

Unfortunately, such wishful thinking is far from reality. Extortion cases are on the rise once again – if local narratives stand any ground against official statistics.

Background briefings from officials and first-hand accounts from those who remain under constant threat suggest extortion cases, which had declined to some extent, have resurfaced.

A businessman, who was forced to leave the province, said he had to pay Rs1 million to extortionists. This was primarily because the police told him he was receiving calls from an alleged banned outfit in Khyber Agency and they had no jurisdiction in the matter.

After an improvised explosive device was planted outside his house, he had no other option but to cough up the amount.

However, the nightmare did not end there. The businessman kept receiving threatening phone calls even after he made the payment. This left him with no other option but to move out of Peshawar and settle elsewhere.

For their part, the police said they could neither operate out of their jurisdiction nor block cellphones with Afghan SIM cards. However, this incident cannot be viewed in isolation.

In the past month, over half a dozen cases are of explosive devices going off outside people’s houses. In each of these incidents, the demand is the same – either pay the extortion money or suffer the consequences.

However, only a handful of extortion cases have been reported. Many victims do not inform the authorities and remain in constant fear.

Narco trade

Security officials and experts believe extortion cases are on the rise because the narcotics trade that militants heavily relied upon has died down due to ongoing military operations in the tribal belt. One of the officials said the police had not been able to take advantage of the aftermath of the military operation to ensure sustainable peace.

Another reason for the hike in extortion cases is the relative calm in the region. Since suicide blasts have dwindled as compared to the past, police officials in settled areas have also become relatively relaxed.

However, within the political sphere, it is believed there are differences between the government and the senior police officials over a variety of issues. A majority of these issues have not been resolved for a long time. The non-interference of the government is a case in point.

While the security apparatus is left to deal with the effects of politicisation, the security of the city hangs in the balance. Over six police officers claim the police department is keen on bringing in police officers from outside the province on higher posts. On the other hand, those officials from the province who are in a better position have been sidelined. This reflects the internal turmoil within the department.

Although these issues are only the tip of the iceberg, there are a number of problems which need to be addressed. Some of them deal with administrative concerns while others remain out of the realm of discussion because they involve a broader regional conflict.

Whatever the case, the public requires fast and efficient justice delivery. For now, it remains a questionable fact whether incidents related to extortion had ever ended.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 9^th,  2015.