Businessmen fear respite is temporary

Industrialists want operation to continue against bhatta mafia.

KARACHI: Businessmen of Karachi city say that after the start of targeted operations, the activities of ‘bhatta’ mafia or extortionists have been reduced to an extent but they fear their resurgence once the operation ends.

Although ongoing-targeted operations against criminal gangs have definitely hit the extortionists hard, industrialists say the mafia has simply gone underground. Businessmen have noticed a sudden drop in threats but they want the government to continue the pressure.

Chairman Federal B Area of Trade and Industry (FBATI) Muhammad Irfan said, “Apparently the situation of security is satisfactory right now, but who knows? What if the bhatta mafia reappears after Eid?”

Chairman Korangi Associa­tion of Trade and Industry (Kati) Johar Ali Qandhari said that the situation was improving with very passing day but more needed to be done. “We want to see tangible results against mafia and not half hearted operations,” said Qandhari.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th,  2011.