Extortionists making a return to Lyari

Young shopkeeper shot four times for refusing to pay up

KARACHI:

A young shopkeeper was shot four times for not paying 'extortion' to a Lyari notorious gangster.

The shopkeeper, identified Huzaifa, suffered four bullets, including two in the legs, one in the arm and another one to the abdomen late on Tuesday evening. He was at his medical store, located in Memon Society in the precincts of Kalri police station, when the incident took place.

Huzaifa was shot in front of his younger brother and rushed to the hospital by a local rickshaw driver. The victim had set up a medical store about four months ago and received a first WhatsApp call from an unknown number two months ago.

"The first call was a warning, but we were bit confused over what to do," Huzaifa's father Muhammad Hasan narrated. "My son received another call within a few days," he added.

Sources in Hasan's family disclosed that law enforcement agencies were contacted after a few calls as they were aware of the deeds extortionists in Lyari. The shopkeeper was advised by authorities to change his WhatsApp number.

"The next call was made on Hasan's number in a few days," said one of the relatives. Hasan also confirmed that he continuously received threatening calls from the same number. "It was an international number. I believe from Saudi Arabia," he added.

The caller introduced himself as Wasiullah Lakho - one of the prominent and most wanted gangsters in the area. Lakho used to rule the area with through his criminal wing from 2009 to 2013 and had disappeared after the Pakistan Rangers started their operation in September 2013.

Read More: ‘Three Lyari gangsters, two robbers’ arrested

In the beginning, the caller demanded Rs500,000 from the medical store owner. After bargaining, the extortionist agreed on Rs100,000. "He demanded payment in two installments before the attack at the shop," a relative of Huzaifa narrated.

Despite continuous threatening calls from the unknown 'person', Huzaifa's complaint was not taken seriously by LEAs. Hasan said that his son was out of dangear. "This incident has shattered my life. I do not think we can continue with this business, at least in this area," the teary-eyed father said.

It was also known that the unknown caller was aware of Huzaifa's house and his father's business. "It seems to be a case of extortion, not personal enmity," said Kalri police station SHO Arshad Ali Khan.

Khan believed that the criminals were using names of notorious gangsters. "Let me dig out who he is," the SHO said. "I think poverty has compelled people to take such risks," he added. Khan did not agree completely that shopkeepers were receiving extortion calls. However, another police official and local residents confirmed to The Express Tribune that shopkeepers were paying extortion for the last few months.

"A hotel owner in the same area was shot and injured for not paying extortion a few months ago," a police officer said.

"I know some of the shopkeepers are already paying bhattas silently," a resident from the area said. He did not disclose the name of the extortionist. "I can see them [gangsters] coming back to Lyari with the same power," he added.

Khan told The Express Tribune that the family of Huzaifa was ready to register an FIR.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2021.