In the name of jihad: Traders pay millions in extortion
Allege complicity of garrison city police.
Nearly every trader pays hefty amounts to extortionists who make calculated threats with details of their bank accounts and family life, says a trader.
RAWALPINDI:
Jamil* left the tribal areas near Peshawar last year after Mangal Bagh, the head of Lashkar-e-Islam, ordered him to pay Rs5 million as ‘protection money’. He established his business in the garrison city but has not been able to escape extortionists.
“My brother went away to Lahore but he was traced and shot after we refused to pay,” he said. “If they can kill my brother in Lahore, they can kill me here.” Bagh had given him two options: send two volunteers from the family to join the militant outfit or pay Rs5 million annually. Jamil said he was willing to pay the amount but his brother refused to give in.
A couple of months after settling in Rawalpindi, Jamil received a call from an unknown number. The man, an acquaintance, warned him to pay the extortion sum in three days or face consequences. Jamil did not think much of it but after three days, he received news of his brother’s murder.
Extortion payments are common in the garrison city. Nearly every trader pays hefty amounts to extortionists who make calculated threats with details of their bank accounts and family life, said Jamil.
A trader in Raja Bazaar, refusing to reveal his name and the nature of his business, said he recently paid Rs2 million. “Three people came to my store and asked me to pay up after discussing the amount of money I could spare.”
Even though he had agreed to pay the amount, his son was kidnapped by extortionists and freed after they received the money.
Traders said phone calls from extortionists almost always start with, “We are fighting a holy war against infidels and if you cannot volunteer for the fight then help our cause with cash,” and end with death threats in case of refusal or tipping off the police.
The Express Tribune learnt that a trader recently shifted his business to Islamabad after his minor daughter was kidnapped. She is still in captivity and he refused to share any details when contacted.
Mistrust of the police and the ability of extortionists to strike anyone anywhere have forced traders to pay whatever is demanded. Most of the time police officials themselves are involved in the racket so how can we trust them? asked Ramzan, a trader in Rawalpindi.
A vendor was gunned down on Monday night for refusing to pay extortion in the jurisdiction of Waris Khan Police Station. A member of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the police said to inform them about petty criminals only and not “national level” players, like the Taliban and “politically connected” groups.
In Pirwadhai, Saddar and Raja Bazaar, traders are forced to pay millions in the name of jihad. Rawalpindi City Police Officer Bilal Kamyana admitted that traders were forced to pay extortion sums to various groups operating in the city. “How can we trace these criminals if traders don’t cooperate with us?” he asked, adding that the police was monitoring the situation and stern action would be taken against extortionists.
Extortionists’ networks are active in other cities as well. Several attempts have been made on the lives of PTI leader Sadaqat Abbasi and his father-in-law, who own hotels in Murree for refusing to pay up. “A man left a flash drive, on which a video featured people with long beards and sophisticated weapons,” Abbasi said. “They demanded Rs100 million and gave details of our assets.”
Abbasi informed the police and an FIR was registered. A few days later, his house in Topa, Murree, was targeted. However, the house was unoccupied as the family was in Islamabad at the time. They still call us and we’ve provided contact numbers and even identified people who are providing information about our movement but no action has been taken, he said. A six-kilogramme explosive connected to a remote was also defused outside Abbasi’s house.
“Taking advantage of the opportunity, agents for other hotels are frightening away tourists, asking them not to stay in hotels owned by Abbassi, due to which our business is suffering.”
* Name changed to protect identity
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2013.
Jamil* left the tribal areas near Peshawar last year after Mangal Bagh, the head of Lashkar-e-Islam, ordered him to pay Rs5 million as ‘protection money’. He established his business in the garrison city but has not been able to escape extortionists.
“My brother went away to Lahore but he was traced and shot after we refused to pay,” he said. “If they can kill my brother in Lahore, they can kill me here.” Bagh had given him two options: send two volunteers from the family to join the militant outfit or pay Rs5 million annually. Jamil said he was willing to pay the amount but his brother refused to give in.
A couple of months after settling in Rawalpindi, Jamil received a call from an unknown number. The man, an acquaintance, warned him to pay the extortion sum in three days or face consequences. Jamil did not think much of it but after three days, he received news of his brother’s murder.
Extortion payments are common in the garrison city. Nearly every trader pays hefty amounts to extortionists who make calculated threats with details of their bank accounts and family life, said Jamil.
A trader in Raja Bazaar, refusing to reveal his name and the nature of his business, said he recently paid Rs2 million. “Three people came to my store and asked me to pay up after discussing the amount of money I could spare.”
Even though he had agreed to pay the amount, his son was kidnapped by extortionists and freed after they received the money.
Traders said phone calls from extortionists almost always start with, “We are fighting a holy war against infidels and if you cannot volunteer for the fight then help our cause with cash,” and end with death threats in case of refusal or tipping off the police.
The Express Tribune learnt that a trader recently shifted his business to Islamabad after his minor daughter was kidnapped. She is still in captivity and he refused to share any details when contacted.
Mistrust of the police and the ability of extortionists to strike anyone anywhere have forced traders to pay whatever is demanded. Most of the time police officials themselves are involved in the racket so how can we trust them? asked Ramzan, a trader in Rawalpindi.
A vendor was gunned down on Monday night for refusing to pay extortion in the jurisdiction of Waris Khan Police Station. A member of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the police said to inform them about petty criminals only and not “national level” players, like the Taliban and “politically connected” groups.
In Pirwadhai, Saddar and Raja Bazaar, traders are forced to pay millions in the name of jihad. Rawalpindi City Police Officer Bilal Kamyana admitted that traders were forced to pay extortion sums to various groups operating in the city. “How can we trace these criminals if traders don’t cooperate with us?” he asked, adding that the police was monitoring the situation and stern action would be taken against extortionists.
Extortionists’ networks are active in other cities as well. Several attempts have been made on the lives of PTI leader Sadaqat Abbasi and his father-in-law, who own hotels in Murree for refusing to pay up. “A man left a flash drive, on which a video featured people with long beards and sophisticated weapons,” Abbasi said. “They demanded Rs100 million and gave details of our assets.”
Abbasi informed the police and an FIR was registered. A few days later, his house in Topa, Murree, was targeted. However, the house was unoccupied as the family was in Islamabad at the time. They still call us and we’ve provided contact numbers and even identified people who are providing information about our movement but no action has been taken, he said. A six-kilogramme explosive connected to a remote was also defused outside Abbasi’s house.
“Taking advantage of the opportunity, agents for other hotels are frightening away tourists, asking them not to stay in hotels owned by Abbassi, due to which our business is suffering.”
* Name changed to protect identity
Published in The Express Tribune, September 21st, 2013.