RAWALPINDI: A Pakistani doctor settled in Ireland received an ‘extortion letter’ allegedly sent by the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Police on Sunday said the doctor came to Pakistan on November 17 and was staying at one of his friends’ house at the Railway Scheme No 6 in Westridge.

Hardly two days after he arrived at the house of his friend, also a doctor, the expatriate Pakistani received the letter demanding Rs15 million, the police said.

However, the doctor has not received any threatening call.

The police said the letter written in English did not mention the location where the extortion money was to be delivered.

However the police said a three-week deadline had been given.

The doctor was threatened of dire consequences if he failed to pay the amount before the deadline.

A police investigating officer quoted the letter as stating: “We know you have brought a large sum of money from abroad. We need money as we are fighting a war.”

The police said a case was registered on the complaint of the doctor on Sunday.

It may be noted that in August 2012, the private clinic of a doctor on Peshawar Road was attacked with a ‘cracker’ that damaged the building.

The doctor was not in the clinic when the explosion occurred which also partially destroyed a vehicle parked outside.

The doctor, who was a professor of surgery and son of a retired general, had also received a call from an unidentified person.

The caller had demanded Rs100 million from the professor and also gave an ultimatum of 72 hours.

In July this year, investigation into the cracker attack case was suspended after the police failed to track down the culprits.

Published in Dawn, November 24th , 2014