'Government will end extortion in Karachi'

Task force to be formed within three days, says interior minister while talking to the media.

KARACHI: Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah decided to form a task force to eradicate extortion rings in Karachi in a meeting on Monday.

They discussed the overall law and order situation, focusing on targeted killings and extortion mafias in Karachi.

Talking to the media, the interior minister said that the task force will be formed within three days. He also expressed his resolve to rid of extortion in the city.

Qaim Ali Shah said that not every killing should be termed targeted since Karachi is a big city where crime usually occurs.

Extortion rackets came under the spotlight after reports said that the Shershah scrap market incident, which claimed the lives of 13 innocent men, took place after failed ‘negotiations’  between an extortion group and the Shershah market association.

Karachi has seen increasing violence this month after Wali Khan Babar, a young reporter, was killed after being shot five times when he was on his way home.

The Rangers force then conducted a sweeping unannounced search operation in Orangi Town resulting in the arrest of over 400 suspects.