Cross-border operations: IGP proposes measures to stem extortion

Sends report to interior ministry containing detailed analysis, suggestions and involved outfits.

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Inspector General Police (IGP) Nasir Khan Durrani has put forward suggestions to the Ministry of Interior to curb cases of extortion in the province.

Extortion has become a major issue for law enforcement agencies across the country. With the drying up of alleged foreign financial assistance to militants, extortion has emerged as a useful tool to generate finances for many banned outfits. Many industrialists and affluent individuals in major cities have received extortion calls. In comparison with other provinces, however, the problem has become more severe in K-P.

IGP Durrani has sent a report to the interior minister, wherein he suggested the implementation of an effective border management system, banning international SIMs in Pakistan and involving all stakeholders to mobilise international support, said sources.

Durrani has reportedly mentioned a specific militant group which is involved in large-scale extortion activities not only in K-P, but in other major cities of Pakistan as well. Owing to the group’s international presence, roots in the tribal areas and ability to operate from across the border, the IGP has emphasised the need for a broad response from all tribal areas and K-P police.

The group has allegedly established its headquarters in areas adjacent to Pakistan’s international border and uses untraceable international SIMs and unregistered local SIMs to make extortion calls, thereby, making it extremely difficult for local police and law enforcement agencies to nab the culprits.

According to an estimate, the group is collecting funds in billions through extortion and is using them to fund terrorist activities in both settled and tribal areas of Pakistan.

In a majority of cases, funds are collected through hawala and hundi, whereas in some instances the victims are even asked to bring the extortion money to the group’s headquarters across the border, said an official privy to the matter. The report sent by K-P police also contains precise locations from where the militant group is operating.

“The dynamics of extortion necessitate the need for a systematic, sustainable and concerted effort by all concerned law enforcement agencies, intelligence agencies and regulatory bodies like Pakistan Telecommunication Authority,” said an official working with the counter terrorism department in K-P.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2014.