Continuing threats: Jewellery shop owner shot, injured

Police say he was victim of extortionists who had earlier attacked his house

PESHAWAR: A man identified as Wahidullah was shot and injured in Gulbahar. The assailants, suspected by the police to be extortionists, attacked him Saturday morning.

Wahidullah, a resident of Javed Town, Gulbahar No 4, was on his way to Ander Sheher where his jewellery shop is located when two motorcyclists opened fire at him. Wahidullah was hit in the leg and was badly injured. He was rushed to the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) where his condition was stated to be critical.
He was later shifted to a private hospital.

“Wahidullah received a letter from unidentified militants who were demanding millions in extortion,” said a police official while talking to The Express Tribune.

“When he did not pay any heed to these letters, his house was attacked with a hand grenade in Javed Town – now he has been attacked and injured.”

The policeman said Wahidullah was a resident of Mohmand Agency but has been living in the city for the past few decades, running a successful jewellery business.

An FIR has been registered against the assailants and police started investigation.

Reports from locals and police in Khazana and Yakatoot suggest businessmen from Mohmand Agency are frequent targets of extortionists with set-ups across the border in Afghanistan.

Locals told The Express Tribune, groups functioning in Nangarhar in Afghanistan invite wealthy traders and businessmen for “a chat” to the neighbouring country. The militants who have researched their prey already know the details of their lives, wealth and assets, and demand extortion.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 15^th,  2016.