During the last a few months, the federal capital has seen a surge in extortion cases but the police are yet to trace them.

This month, the Margalla police registered two cases on the complaints of the father of the world’s youngest Microsoft-certified professional and a doctor working in a public hospital. The complainants said they had been receiving threatening phone calls and letters since October last year. According to sources in the police, it looked that militants were behind the crime. Though the police registered a number of cases, the investigators have failed to trace the culprits.

On January 9, Ghulam Syedain, the father of the seven-year-old Microsoft-certified professional Subhan Ali Syedain, complained to the police that in May 2014 a man called him on his mobile phone and demanded Rs2 million.

He said the caller threatened him of dire consequences in case the amount was not arranged. The caller also told him that he knew about the movement of his three children. The complainant said he negotiated the amount with the extortionists and paid them Rs800,000.

A few days after paying the money, he found a threatening letter in the courtyard of his house. This time, the extortionists had also demanded Rs2 million. The complainant said that on December 13, two persons riding a motorcycle intercepted his car when he was returning home along with his wife. They referred to the letter and warned him against ignoring the demand.

The investigating officer of the case, ASI Mohammad Irshad Asad, told Dawn that the case was under investigation. He said a preliminary investigation showed that a local network was behind the extortion demands and it was premature to say if the criminals were affiliated with any militant outfit.

Dr Asfandyar Khan, who works in a state-run-hospital, in his complaint told the police that a few days ago he received a call from an unknown number and the caller demanded Rs3 million. Again on January 7, a man called him and warned that if he did not pay the amount they would spoil his reputation.

The complainant stated that due to some domestic issues he was already in distress. He said a few days ago his elder brother was murdered. Besides, he had serious rivalries in his native town.

On January 6, in reply to a question, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told the Senate that the Centaurus administration had received a threatening email on October 10, 2014. An FIR was registered with the Margalla police station.

The police officers investigating the case claimed that the extortionists used the letterhead of a banned outfit. They demanded a huge amount from the administration of the capital’s landmark shopping mall, the police officers told Dawn.

The letter was written in Urdu and sent to the administration of the mall but addressed to the owners of all the outlets operating there. The extortionists asked for Rs600 million and warned the traders to fulfil their demand as soon as possible otherwise the amount would be increased.

They also warned them to keep the demand secret and if they sought help from anyone, it might prove dangerous for them and their business. A ‘note’ was also written at the end of the letter which said: “We have all the details of your business and personal life and if you do not pay the amount, we will act.” The police said the extortionists had given a mobile number of Afghanistan for contact.

Later, another letter was sent to the shopping centre which stated: “We have received a call from a trader who used an abusive language against us.” They asked for his identification and threatened that they would resort to violence if they continued with the same attitude.

In July 2014, the Sabzi Mandi police arrested two extortionists for demanding Rs300,000 from a businessman. Another member of a gang was arrested for demanding Rs4 million from a transporter.

Though the capital police have arrested some low-profile members of extortionists, they could not trace the main culprits behind the crime.

Published in Dawn January 19th , 2015

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