Safety from extortionists: PHC orders for security of shop owner

His counsel asked for weapons licence; says callers belong to banned organisation

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court has ordered the provincial government and police department to provide complete security to a pharmacy shop owner in the city who received extortion calls from an unidentified banned organisation.

Malik Khurshid Ahmad’s counsel Muazzam Butt told the bench of Justice Irshad Qaiser and Justice Syed Afsar Shah the petitioner has been running a pharmacy in Dabgari Garden.

Butt added the petitioner was receiving calls from unidentified people who demanded money from him. He added they threatened him with dire consequences in case of non-payment. Butt said the callers said they belonged to a banned organisation.

The counsel said since no security has been provided to the petitioner he should be allowed to possess a prohibited weapon for his security.

Farhad Hussain, counsel for the police department, told the bench mobile phone data of the culprits was obtained and the police was close to arresting them.

Additional Advocate General Syed Qaiser Ali Shah said the demand for a licence was unfair because every citizen would then start demanding them.

After hearing the arguments, the bench directed the provincial government and police department to ensure proper security to the petitioner.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 7^th, 2016.