City sees surge in extortion calls

Third case reported in three days; FIR registered after restaurateur gets online threats

KARACHI:

A third extortion attempt in three days has surfaced in the city, as Aram Bagh Police have registered a case against unidentified extortionists on the complaint of a restaurant owner.

The suspects, after giving life threats on phone and WhatsApp, even provided a private bank account number for transferring the extortion money.

According to CPLC data on extortion incidents, 139 cases were reported in the past two years — 50 in 2023 and 89 in 2024. For 2025, up to October 30, a total of 74 incidents have been reported. Monthly figures include 11 in January, four in February, nine in March, five in April, three in May, seven in June, five in July, one in August, 11 in September, and 18 in October — the highest so far. Additionally, three extortion-related cases have been reported in November.

In these recent incidents, extortionists fired shots at a trader's showroom on New MA Jinnah Road to intimidate him, while another marble trader was sent bullets as a threat. In the third case, extortionists demanded Rs2 million from a restaurant owner on Muhammad Bin Qasim Road in Aram Bagh, later reducing the amount to Rs500,000 and finally to Rs300,000. They then provided a bank account number for payment.

Aram Bagh Police have registered FIR No. 404/2025 under Sections 385, 386, and 25-D of the Telegraph Act on the complaint of Abdul Rehman. The complainant stated that he has been running Spicy Khan restaurant with his partner Manzoor Hussain since 2022. On the evening of November 19, at around 7:30pm, the restaurant's official WhatsApp number received a message from a foreign number which said, "listen carefully, Spicy Khan. Our men have been watching you for 5-6 days. We know where you go and what you do, and we have full information about your family. If Rs2 million is not paid by tomorrow, we will kill you or kidnap someone from your family."

The complainant said the extortionist continued to send WhatsApp messages and voice notes. During the conversation, the extortionist reduced the demand from Rs2 million to Rs500,000 and then to Rs300,000, providing a bank account number in the name of Haider Khan for the transfer. Abdul Rehman stated he fears for his life and that of his family and requested legal action.

Aram Bagh Police have forwarded the case to the in-charge of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the CIA for further investigation.

The rising trend of extortion has created deep concern among the business community, with many traders choosing not to report such incidents, instead settling matters privately with extortionists to avoid further threats.