The dreaded call: Extortionists harass sugar mill owner

PESHAWAR:

The owner of Haq Bahoo Flour Mills in Jhagra in Chamkani police station lodged an FIR against extortionists who were demanding millions of rupees to meet their ‘expenses’.

“Muhammad Ibrahim, the proprietor of the flour mills, received a call from a militant commander identified as Omar from Afghanistan. Ibrahim was told to donate Rs5 million to their ‘cause’ otherwise he would be dealt with accordingly,” a police official told The Express Tribune. He added the call was received four days ago, but an FIR was lodged on Tuesday by the counter-terrorism department (CTD).

“The man was demanding Rs5 million in the name of the Islamic State,” he said. The policeman added it was probably the first time anyone claiming to be part of the terrorist organisation demanded extortion in the area and it caused panic. People living in the jurisdiction of Chamkani police station often receive calls from Afghanistan-based militants.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th,  2016.