Coercion trends: Extortion victims asked to hop across border to negotiate terms

Militants in Afghanistan compel people in K-P to donate for jihad

PESHAWAR: A new trend in extortion cases is being seen in the city as people receive calls from militants across the border. The victims are invited to visit places such as Lalpura in Afghanistan where their assets are assessed and they are compelled to donate chanda or charity in the name of jihad.

“In the past, people used to receive calls to pay the extortion amount or else their house will be targeted. However, this trend is changing now,” said a police official while talking to The Express Tribune. “Now people are asked to visit the Afghan side of the Torkham border and/or Lalpura in Afghanistan to negotiate the matter,” he added.

The police official said people are so afraid that sometimes they oblige without asking any questions. “But some of those who fall prey to these extortionists are bold enough to report it to the police,” he said, adding most cases are being reported from the jurisdiction of Yakatoot police station. He also pointed out Badabher, Mattani, Khazana, Sarband, Mathra and Hayatabad police stations.

“All these groups, which are now based in Afghanistan, are almost out of reach of the Pakistani police and security forces. This is the biggest problem we face while trying to clamp down on extortion,” the official said.

Extortionists have different tools in hand to put pressure on their victims, which include attacking their house with IEDs as well as hand grenades. In some cases, wealthy people who had refused to pay were shot dead to instill fear – a message for potential extortion victims. At least, ten houses were attacked with IEDs in the city in November alone. In most cases, mobile numbers from Afghanistan were used. However, the use of unverified SIMs from Pakistan is also common.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2015.