Two booked for trying to extort restaurant owner

The suspects were known to police after similar report was filed against them four days ago

RAWALPINDI: The Gujar Khan police on Saturday booked two men who were allegedly trying to extort money from a local restaurant and shooting at the restaurant’s owner and other employees.

Abdul Razzaq complained to the Gujar Khan police that he and his employees were going about their business at the restaurant located in the Main Bazaar on June 9. At around 10:30 pm, Razzaq said, two men came to the restaurant and opened fire, creating terror and panic in the market and restaurant.



The complainant claimed that Ali Asghar, also known as Baga, had visited his restaurant on June 4 and asked his dinner order to be packed. However, Asghar left without paying for his food. He returned to the restaurant two days later on June 6 at around 11:30 pm. This time, Irfan, also known as Fana, accompanied Asghar.

They asked for a meal and demanded that they should not be charged. But when Razzaq refused, they opened fire on his restaurant and fled. As a result of the firing, Razzaq’s son Nazir Khan suffered a bullet injury to his leg.

Razzaq had subsequently filed a case against the two with the Gujar Khan police.

Despite having filed a case against the two men, Asghar and Irfan returned to Razzaq’s restaurant on Saturday armed with pistols. They told the restaurant owner said that they would teach him a lesson for not providing them with a free meal three days ago.



Razzaq alleged that the armed men tried to extort him, asking him to pay Rs50,000 every month or else they would kill him. When Razzaq refused, the men opened fire. The restaurant owner said that he had to duck behind the cash counter to save his life.

Two of Razzaq’s employees, Bashir Gul and Habibullah, tried to stop the two armed men who fled while firing in the air. Based on the complaint, police registered a case under charges of spreading terror and extortion.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 11^th, 2017.