HYDERABAD, July 12: A photo laboratory owner, who is brother of a local PPP leader, has sought protection from Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and the District Nazim of Hyderabad from extortionists.

Speaking at a press conference at the press club here on Wednesday, Mohammad Sharif Qureshi said that outlaws had also attacked him and fired at his shop and damaged a photo processing machine.

He asked the police authorities for help as around 40 persons were working in his laboratory and earning their livelihood.

He said a group belonging to a political party had extorted Rs60,000 from him. He identified some members of the group as Tariq Doodhwala, Faheem Gitta, Mama, Dad Mohammad Pathan and Abdullah Pathan.

“After I paid Rs60,000 they asked me to pay Rs20,000 per month,” said Sharif Qureshi, brother of PPP leader Sagheer Qureshi.

Mr Qureshi, who owns his shop in the Gari Khata area, said that after his refusal to pay monthly extortion money, various people had set up cabins in front of his shop at the insistence of the group. When he had objected to it, they had attacked him.

Mr Qureshi said he had reported the matter to police but no action had been taken. When he and his employees staged a demonstration, the alleged extortionists threatened him of dire consequences.

On July 9, 2006, when he again objected to establishment of cabins, Tariq Doodhwala, cabin owner Dad Mohammad Pathan and Abdullah Pathan with their accomplices grappled with him. However, they fled when his employees called out police.

At around 3:30am, they had fired at his shop, smashing panes and damaging a photo processing plant.

He said that although police had detained Dad Mohammad and Abdullah Pathan on his complaint, but no action had been taken against Tariq and his accomplices.

He, however, added that his FIR was not being lodged nor any action was being taken against attackers.