PESHAWAR: The authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have approached Islamabad to take up with the Afghan government the issue of extortion calls that have created a serious law and order problem in the province, particularly the provincial capital.
An official requesting anonymity told The News that the KP authorities had sent a letter to the then secretary interior Shahid Ahmad Khan on January 14 and again to the incumbent secretary on February 23. The letter, the copies of which are available with The News, explained that the extortion calls from Afghanistan had been one of the major issues haunting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He disclosed that along with the letter, the authorities sent a complete list of cellular phone numbers being used by the extortionists based across the border. The list included a few local cellular phone numbers as well. The letter mentioned that the major group involved in extortions is operating from the Afghan soil.
“It is requested to take up the matter with the government of Afghanistan through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for dismantling their bases and apprehending the miscreants involved in the menace of extortion,” stated an official letter by Inspector General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police Nasir Khan Durrani to the Secretary Ministry of Interior Arif Ahmad Khan.
“Owing to the Operation Zarb-e-Azb and due to the efforts of police and Counter-Terrorism Department, a significant 50 percent decrease has been recorded in extortion calls in 2015 compared to 2014. Currently, 98 percent calls being received are originating from Afghanistan where we have no access or jurisdiction to operate,” it added.
It argued that the problem would persist till the issue of signal spillover is dealt with. The letter pointed out that there was a lot of discomfort and insecurity in the business community on account of the extortion calls.
The traders, industrialists and a number of well-off people in Peshawar and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have once again started receiving calls for extortion. The houses of a few of those who refused to pay extortion money were attacked with bombs while some became victims of target killings.
The traders’ community is angry after the murder of their senior leader Haji Muhammad Haleem Jan at his shop in Qissa Khwani bazaar on January 9. They have been protesting for the last several weeks and some have demanded the removal of the police chief.
They have also asked for deployment of the Rangers in Peshawar, a city where the Frontier Constabulary, Frontier Corps and army troops assist the police in operations and snap checking.
Capital City Police Officer Mubarak Zeb said they had made progress in the murder case of Haji Muhammad Haleem Jan while the security in the inner city has been increased to give a sense of confidence to the traders.“More police deployment has been made in the city while a liaison committee has been activated to improve coordination between the police and traders,” Mubarak Zeb added.
www.thenews.com.pk/print/102005-KP-wants-Islamabad-to-take-up-extortion-calls-issue-with-Kabul
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