KARACHI – Expressing deep concern over the growing incidents of extortion and kidnappings for ransom in the city, the MQM on Saturday demanded that the government should take solid steps for protecting the life and property of the citizens and initiate firm action against those involved in these crimes.
In a statement issued by the MQM Coordination Committee, it was stated that despite the claims of the government administration, the criminals are moving in the streets freely and playing with the life and property of the people.
Huge sums of money are being demanded from traders and common people through extortion slips and if someone fails to meet the demands then his children or family members are kidnapped for ransom and a number of traders have been forced to pay huge sums of money for the release of their children.
The citizens of Karachi and the business community have been left to the mercy of the criminals due to which they are facing extreme mental agony and anguish, and they have been forced to come on streets and call for a strike. And despite the evidence on ground, the government is stubbornly refusing to move against the hardened criminals involved in the kidnappings and extortions.
The MQM Coordination Committee demanded that President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah should take indiscriminate action against criminals involved kidnappings for ransom and extortion.
Traders meet Dr Farooq Sattar: A delegation of the All Karachi Tajir Ittehad called on the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Rabita Committee Deputy Convener Dr Farooq Sattar on Saturday and informed him that extortionists were harassing the trader community. MQM Rabita Committee member Wasim Aftab and Karachi Tanzimi Committee In-charge Hammad Siddiqui were also present on the occasion.
The delegation told Dr Sattar extortionists are sending them slips demanding large sums of money and threatening them of dire consequences if the demands are not met. They regretted that that the people at the helm of affairs are silent over the business community’s woes. They said that Karachi generates 70 percent of the country’s revenue and if adequate protection is not provided to the business community, they will be forced to take their investment out of the count.
Dr Sattar expressed solidarity with the traders’ delegation and said that the MQM will help solve the problems of the business community.
