Terrorising locals: New wave of extortion hits city

CTD official says local, Afghan groups at work across the border.

PESHAWAR: After a period of comparative peace, extortionists are once again active in the provincial capital and its surrounding areas. This is evident from the recent series of bomb blasts, a typical harassment tactic used by extortionists, and telephone calls using Afghan SIMs.

At least four such cases were reported during this month, including the targeting of the residence of a customs deputy collector in Garhi Qamardin.



Unidentified people hurled a hand grenade at the house which comes within the jurisdiction of Banamarhi police. No casualties were reported but widespread panic spread through the area. The customs official told the police militants had demanded millions in extortion.

A similar attack took place in Kashif Colony, where another house was targeted using hand grenades by unidentified assailants. Last month, the bomb disposal unit defused a two-kilogramme explosive device planted outside a house in Panj Khata, Yakatoot.

Shuba, a local chemist, lodged an FIR with police at Soekarno Square which stated militants based in Mohmand Agency were regularly calling him from an Afghanistan-based SIM. The unidentified men were demanding several millions of rupees. The counter-terrorism department (CTD) registered an FIR against two commanders of Noor Gul group and initiated investigation.

Not an easy case

CTD also registered an FIR based on a complaint from Haji Shakoor Khan, a resident of Pak-Madina Hotel in Kala Mandi. According to CTD officials, Haji Shakor was receiving threatening calls from an Afghanistan-based SIM, demanding Rs5 million. “These are local groups based in Afghanistan. We know about them and are currently investigating the matter,” an official told The Express Tribune. He added a large number of extortionists had been arrested by CTD and police successfully in the past year.

“Our crackdown is still under way. We are trying to target and eliminate all extortionists but it will take time,” he said. Calls were dialled from Afghanistan while operatives, for each group, were present in the city to spy and trail their victims, said the CTD official.

Last week, CTD arrested a customer service manager of a well-known mobile phone company for not blocking unverified SIMs used to make calls for extortions.

CTD claimed at least four extortionist groups were using SIMs from this particular mobile company. An FIR was registered on court orders and the manager was immediately arrested under Section 7 of Anti-Terrorism  Act 1997.

Living a nightmare

Charsadda Road resident Farid Khan recalled what became a recurring nightmare over the past few years, when targeted killings and extortion demands were rife. “I am a poor shop keeper but I saw my friends being pushed to the wall by these extortionists. I have seen at least half a dozen houses attacked in my neighbourhood in Bakhshi Pul,” said Farid.

He added houses were targeted when women and children
were present.

“Can you imagine the condition of a child who undergoes such a nightmare?”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd,  2015.