Flying capital: Traders seek protection against extortionists

Say extortion has become a common practice in Rawalpindi.

RAWALPINDI:

Traders of the garrison city continue to be on the hit list of extortionists. Cases of extortions are being regularly reported while only four suspected extortionists were arrested and one of them was released after police could not produce any evidence against him.

In the wake of a blast outside a food outlet last night, traders demanded better security arrangements.

“Last year several police officials were arrested in Islamabad for their alleged involvement in extortion,” said an office-bearer of Rawalpindi Trader Union in Raja Bazaar, requesting anonymity.

He said traders have to pay as informing police means inviting unwarranted death for yourself or a member of your family.

Traders said extortion in the city has become a common practice.

Mistrust of the police and the ability of the extortionists to strike anyone anywhere have forced traders to pay whatever is demanded. “My brother was killed even after he had shifted to Lahore. Even after his murder, I had to pay Rs10 million,” said a trader from Khyber Agency.

A senior police officer said that most of cases go unreported as traders don’t inform the police due to fear of being killed by extortionists.

Those who shifted their businesses from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas and local businessmen both are under equal threat.

Recently, Rawalpindi police arrested four suspected extortionists who would use an Afghan SIM to demand extortion from traders.

Qadir Mir, another trader, said that trader delegations held several meetings with police chiefs but to no avail adding that traders are being looted for last three years.

“Last year, house of Muhammad Naeem, owner of Savour Foods outlet, was targeted, last night his hotel became a target and tomorrow he will be killed,” he said.

Haji Imran, a trader based in Saddar, said IG Islamabad expressed inability to trace the relative of a sitting minister Najma Hameed who was kidnapped by extortionists.

If police cannot protect relatives of a senator then we should not complain, Imran said. Last year, several attempts were made on lives of Saddaqat Abbasi, a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and businessman from Murree, and his family members.

“The extortionists have complete knowledge of our bank accounts and our movements. They had demanded Rs100 million and when we refused our house was targeted twice,” said Sadaqat Abbasi.

Traders complained that no one will invest his capital if the menace of extortion was not overcome.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2014.