The bhatta (extortion) mafia is sending SMS messages to businessmen industrialists asking them to pay money, Mian Zahid Hussain, former chairman of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) and a leading industrialist, told Pakistan Today in an exclusive interview.
“Different extortionist groups are using the names of the Awami National Party (ANP), Jeay Sindh and the Lyari group to extort money,” he added.
“The criminals of the bhatta mafia threaten us that they know where our children study and they will kidnap them if we do not fulfill their demands.”
Hussain said businessmen were not receiving calls from anonymous mobile phone numbers fearing that the caller could be an extortionist or a kidnapper.
“But this strategy did not work as the criminals are now sending text messages to threaten us,” he added.
“Surprisingly, no one is using the name of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) as this party has not only dissociated itself from the elements extorting money, but also discouraging them.”
The industrialist pointed out that in some cases, extortionists use the name of the ANP on their own. “In a few extortion cases, the businessmen immediately contacted Karachi’s ANP leaders, who sent their men to the spot where the criminals were demanding money using the name of their party and had those people kicked out of there,” he added.
Hussain said in collaboration with the Citizen-Police Liaison Committee and the ANP, industrialists and businessmen are tackling with the menace of extortion.
He said following the footsteps of the MQM, all other parties of Sindh, especially those in Karachi, should declare that they will not patronise the gangsters involved in extortion.
He, however, said extortion and crimes in the industrial centres of the city have declined in the wake of the operation launched by Rangers and police. “The law and order situation has been quite better in the city during the past few months, but this should be sustainable,” he added.
“The businessmen feel that sustainability of law and order is important for the promotion of investment and economy.”
The former KATI chief said the energy shortfall is a major hurdle in the growth of industry, business and economy.
“As long as the country continues to face the energy crisis, achieving the economic growth target will be very difficult,” he remarked.
He observed that several industries have already been shut down due to the energy crisis and this drawback will continue to undermine the growth of industries and economy.
“The devaluation of the rupee is not only enhancing the cost of doing business, but also putting extra burden on consumers,” he noted.
“The Pakistani rupee has depreciated by about 50 percent in the last few years and this is very damaging for the local industry and consumers in the country.”
Hussain maintained that good governance, better law and order situation and improved supply of electricity and gas could ensure a quick turnaround in business and economy of the country.
