KARACHI — Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar has declared extortion a serious threat to Karachi’s economic stability, vowing that the government will not tolerate intimidation of traders or disruption of business activity in Pakistan’s largest city.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Lanjar revealed that several traders had received threats for refusing to pay extortion money. “We will not permit anyone to intimidate citizens or businessmen,” he said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to ensuring a secure environment for commerce.
The minister disclosed that four suspects involved in extortion were killed in police encounters, while three others were arrested in injured condition during ongoing operations. He praised law enforcement agencies for their swift action.
Additional Inspector General (AIG) Karachi, Javed Alam Odho, added that CIA and SIU units had arrested over 20 extortionists in the past two weeks. He reported that 118 extortion cases were filed this year, with 44 linked to personal disputes.
Odho also noted a significant drop in street crime, reporting a 28% decline, and a 19% reduction in vehicle-snatching incidents, attributing the improvements to enhanced policing and intelligence-based operations.
The crackdown comes amid growing concerns over urban crime and its impact on Karachi’s business climate. Authorities say they are committed to restoring public confidence and maintaining law and order across the city.
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