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When ‘Peace’ will visit Karachi?
June 08, 2012
Firing of guns, screaming of men, women and children outside the hospitals, loud sirens of Ambulances and breaking news on TV channels; this not a war scene but routine affairs of city Karachi, home to 20 million people.
People of the city facing several criminal elements at a time, including target killers, extortionists, Dacoits, no one knows about the elements involved behind the killing.
Extortionist mafia had claimed six lives during last 15 months, including builders and traders.
Despite several protest by the traders, these extortionist have occupied all the business activities in the city amidst the silent spectator role of the law enforcement agencies.
With the increase in mercury, the terrorists activities increase in the city, which augmented the public sentiments about the police that police is not serious to overcome these criminal elements in the city. Public perception is supported by the fact, the extortions slips, which are being disturbed among the traders without any fear.
Need of the time is that the government would have to take serous action against criminals elements, if it wants to save the economy of the city.
Talking to media persons after attending the funeral prayer of SP Shah Muhammad, who was killed by terrorists, I.G Sindh, Shah Muhammad told media “ The terrorist activities increases in the city with the start of summer season”, his this statement added fuel to the fire, citizens who are already suffering a lot due to deteriorating law and order situation.
Replying to a question, I.G Sindh said that the citizens were facing huge problems as it seemed that police was not serious to overcome target killers.
The extortionist targeted all those traders, who refused to pay extortion, such activities have jolted the economic foundation of the city and these activities increase in the city with the passage of time.
During last week, at least 44 people were killed, including SP Shah Muhammad, members of banned Sipa-e-Sahba, ANP and PPP worker in the city.
According to police sources, 22 out of 44 were killed after kidnapping while SP Shah Muhammad was shot dead by the target killers when he visited his friend, Dr Dilshad Ghuari in NO-3 Bangali Market , the killers opened indiscriminate firing on them , resultantly both of them died at the spot.
The investigation team has been setup to investigate the killing of SP Shah Muhammad.
Meanwhile, at least two workers of banned out fit Sapeh-e-Sahiba were shot dead on May 28 while two Shia people were gunned down by un known persons on May 30 in Orangi Town area , the killing of religious party workers sparked sectarian violence in the city
On the other hand the lawyers community boycotted the court proceeding following the attack on senior judge.
The extortionists make their way into the market and openly ask for extortion money and if any shop keeper hesitates than their shops are attacked either with hand grenades or firing. A extortion group killed the owner of Mirth Kabab House in Gulshan Iqbal Block 13 D-1 . Similarly on May 19 a builder Salman Azam, an activist of Abad, who was standing waiting for his wife and kids at Samara Apartment was gunned down, Salman Azam was also receiving threats from a Extorting group and Salman had informed his friends about the threats. According to builders it has become extremely difficult to work in Garden, Soldier Bazaar, PECH Society, Gulistan Johar, and Gulshan-e-Iqbal areas . Abad had informed the provincial home minister as well as other senior officials but the complaints went unnoticed. Salman Azim was the only son of his parents and had three children. Ababd has protested against the killing of their active member and police has even register a case. But usually the police site the reason of killing as a business dispute rather than extortion and closes the file. The bike riders attacked over the ‘Yadgaar restaurant’ situated in Jamshed Quarter No 3 and killed ‘Nanbai’ Aslam and injured 10 others. Before the attack, the extortionist groups had distributed extortion slips which the traders said issued by gang war Ahmad Magsi group. As the ‘Yadgaar restaurant’ is a famous restaurant, the attack on the market was made to scare traders of the market. The traders had already informed the police about the expected attack but police had not done something for the security of traders and market and resulted in assault over the market and accused fled away without any obstacle. Police has termed the incident as business rivalry worked behind the scene. The traders has protested on Jamshed road and rejected the false claims of the police. They showed extortion slips to media men. The protest was continued as extortion group attacked on medical store situated near Meruth Kabab Hotel in Gulshan Iqbal Block 13 and gunned down the owner of medical store Asif Khan in front of his father. If police has provided the security to the market after attack on Jamshed road, then the newly married trader Asif’s life could be saved. After murder of Asif, the armed men has abducted two brothers Faisal and Faraz who are traders of spear parts market situated on M.A Jinnah road. Both the brothers are residents of Qureshi Mohallah, Gulbahar Khamosh Colony. The spear parts traders of M.A Jinnah road have posed an aggressive protest over the abduction of two brothers. According to traders, extortionists are distributing extortion slips among traders of Awami Market and now the extortionists have doubled the rate of extortion. They said they had setup check posts for police on their expenditures but police is not performing its duty there while junkies have formed it as their hideouts. Police said, kidnappers have demanded 40 million rupees ransom for abducted two brothers, while their family and kidnappers are dealing on the matter. Police stated, they had formed anti extortion cell but traders did not cooperate to the cell and the traders have not registered complaints. According to police, the traders do not inform police about receiving of extortion slips and threats from the offenders which is an added advantage for the criminals. Police said, these types of crimes were decreased during Lyari operation but after the second day of cease fire in Lyari the group again activated and killed one trader at Pak colony Marble Market upon refusal of giving extortions to the offenders. Police stated, Anwar Kojak of gang war, Baba Ladla, Sheraz Comrade, Arshad Pappu group and various other groups working under umbrella of some political and religious parties. Other day police has arrested two extortionists in Kharadar area upon threatening owner of a hotel for extortion and then it was known that two accused arrested are security guards by professions and receive huge money of extortion by pretending their names of big extortionists.
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