Extortion threats: Charitable trust comes under Taliban’s radar
Notices issued to police high-ups to file comments by July 19.
Bint-e-Fatima Old Home Trust has recently made it to the Taliban’s hit list. PHOTO: PUBLICITY
KARACHI:
After preying on successful industrialists and businessmen, militant outfits are now targeting charitable and non-profit organisations and threatening them of dire consequences if extortion money is not paid.
Bint-e-Fatima Old Home Trust has recently made it to the Taliban’s hit list. The extortionists have allegedly demanded Rs5 million as ‘protection’ money and threatened to kill the entire family of the trust’s chairperson, Farzana Shoaib, and blow up the NGO if their demand remains unmet.
On Friday, the trust’s chairperson asked the high court for security from the alleged Taliban activists. The petitioner said she is running this charity in the Darakhshan neighbourhood strictly in accordance with the rules and regulations.
“On May 22, a man came to the trust’s office and introduced himself as Allaouddin Khilji, nephew of the Taliban Commander Mullah Omer. He demanded Rs5 million ‘bhatta’,” said the petitioner.
“The extortionist has also threatened to kill the petitioner and her family and blow up the trust’s building if his demand is not fulfilled,” the petitioner’s lawyer, Syed Abdul Waheed, told the judges. It was stated that the matter was reported at Darakhshan police, but they did not take any action. Three days later, the suspected Taliban activist visited the trust again, reiterating the demand for extortion money, the lawyer said.
The lawyer pleaded to the court to direct the police high-ups to provide security to the petitioner and her family and take action against the alleged extortionist.
After hearing the arguments, a single bench, headed by Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, issued notices to the provincial home secretary, the police chief, DSP Darakhshan and SHO Darakhshan to file their comments by July 19.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2013.
After preying on successful industrialists and businessmen, militant outfits are now targeting charitable and non-profit organisations and threatening them of dire consequences if extortion money is not paid.
Bint-e-Fatima Old Home Trust has recently made it to the Taliban’s hit list. The extortionists have allegedly demanded Rs5 million as ‘protection’ money and threatened to kill the entire family of the trust’s chairperson, Farzana Shoaib, and blow up the NGO if their demand remains unmet.
On Friday, the trust’s chairperson asked the high court for security from the alleged Taliban activists. The petitioner said she is running this charity in the Darakhshan neighbourhood strictly in accordance with the rules and regulations.
“On May 22, a man came to the trust’s office and introduced himself as Allaouddin Khilji, nephew of the Taliban Commander Mullah Omer. He demanded Rs5 million ‘bhatta’,” said the petitioner.
“The extortionist has also threatened to kill the petitioner and her family and blow up the trust’s building if his demand is not fulfilled,” the petitioner’s lawyer, Syed Abdul Waheed, told the judges. It was stated that the matter was reported at Darakhshan police, but they did not take any action. Three days later, the suspected Taliban activist visited the trust again, reiterating the demand for extortion money, the lawyer said.
The lawyer pleaded to the court to direct the police high-ups to provide security to the petitioner and her family and take action against the alleged extortionist.
After hearing the arguments, a single bench, headed by Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi, issued notices to the provincial home secretary, the police chief, DSP Darakhshan and SHO Darakhshan to file their comments by July 19.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2013.