As the collection of extortion money from traders and businessmen in Karachi has become order of the day, the criminals have now started extorting bhatta from foreign officials.
On May 28, Honorary Consul General of Canada Behram D Avari received a threatening text message from a criminal group who claimed to be associated with Lyari Gang War (LGW) and demanded Rs 5 million in extortion money.
Behram D Avari is the owner of three-star hotel (Beach Luxury) located in a posh locality of the city.
Police purportedly arrested three men from interior Sindh who were part of the group that demanded extortion money from Avari. However, no law enforcement department has confirmed the arrest.
In a statement to police, Avari said he had received a text message of a person who disclosed himself as Ahmed Ali Magsi on May 28.
“The said person told me that he belonged to LGW and demanded Rs 5 million on account of extortion money,” Avari told police.
“In the text message, the criminals warned me to arrange the money and call them back on the same number, otherwise they would blow up my hotel and house with hand grenades,” Avari said, adding that the criminals also told me that they were not afraid of anyone and no one could dare reach them.
“They told me to go police, Rangers, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Special Investigation Unit (SIU), Anti-Violent Crime Cell (AVCC) and Criminal Investigation Agency (CIA) or anywhere, but pay them the extortion money,” Avari maintained.
“We don’t want to hurt you or put you in any kind of trouble. Pay us Rs 5 million,” Avari read the message of criminals to police.
“Reacting on my complaint, the police raided and arrested some of criminals from Pano Aqil, interior Sindh,” Avari told Pakistan Today.
“I approached police after receiving demand of extortion money,” Avari said, adding that “I am not afraid of anyone”.
“I have no idea about arrest in this case as I had lodged the FIR and forwarded the case to investigation department,” Docks police SHO Asif Jakhrani said.
“The SIU is pursuing the case and they have arrested some members of the group after raids,” the SHO added.
SIU chief Farooque Awan said SSP West had conducted raids in interior Sindh and arrested some men, but he had no information about development into Avari’s case.