Karachi businessmen back off for fear of gangs
Business community divided over whether to become a petitioner in SC hearing for fear that the mafia will target them.
KARACHI:
Although Karachi’s business community wants the government to go after extortionists, it is divided over whether to become a petitioner in the Supreme Court’s suo motu notice for fear that the mafia will eventually target them.
Businessmen who had announced on Tuesday that they will file a petition in the court seemed to back off from the decision.
“The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry is not considering becoming a party to the case,” said KCCI President Saeed Shafiq but added that some industrialists might want to contribute in an individual capacity.
Wahab Lakhani, who chairs the SITE Association of Trade and Industry, reserved comment on the case, saying the matter was subjudice. However, he said, as an association they were not filing a petition.
“It is no secret that businessmen are so scared of political parties that they do not file FIRs against extortionists,” said a leading businessman, requesting anonymity. “It is true that the situation will not improve until businessmen come forward, but who will risk his life?”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 7th, 2011.
Although Karachi’s business community wants the government to go after extortionists, it is divided over whether to become a petitioner in the Supreme Court’s suo motu notice for fear that the mafia will eventually target them.
Businessmen who had announced on Tuesday that they will file a petition in the court seemed to back off from the decision.
“The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry is not considering becoming a party to the case,” said KCCI President Saeed Shafiq but added that some industrialists might want to contribute in an individual capacity.
Wahab Lakhani, who chairs the SITE Association of Trade and Industry, reserved comment on the case, saying the matter was subjudice. However, he said, as an association they were not filing a petition.
“It is no secret that businessmen are so scared of political parties that they do not file FIRs against extortionists,” said a leading businessman, requesting anonymity. “It is true that the situation will not improve until businessmen come forward, but who will risk his life?”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 7th, 2011.