By Staff Reporter
KARACHI: Police in Karachi arrested eight suspects accused of running an extortion network during a raid at the residence of Muhammad Sarwat Ejaz Qadri, the chairman of the Pakistan Sunni Tehreek, a religious political party, officials said on Sunday.
The arrests were made late Saturday night, but the police emphasised that Qadri himself was not wanted, had not been arrested and had no evident ties to the operation. “Police had no evidence of the suspects’ association with any party,” said Imran Khan, the senior superintendent of police for the Special Investigation Unit, during a news briefing in the city.
The operation highlighted the persistent challenge of extortion rackets in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and economic hub, where criminal networks often target businesses and individuals for protection money. Khan said the arrested men were linked to a group led by two fugitives, Wasiullah Lakho and Abdul Samad Kathiawari, who were “in hiding abroad” and considered “most-wanted” by the authorities. Three other key figures in the network, Mullah Shahzaib, Jawwad, who is also known as Waja Qadri, and Rehanuddin, had been overseeing operations in the city, according to Khan. Multiple cases had been filed against the suspects, including charges related to extortion and violent incidents.
The raid followed the formation of a special task force last week by the Karachi additional inspector general to combat extortion. The team includes the deputy inspector general for the west zone, the deputy inspector general for the Crime Investigation Agency, the central senior superintendent of police and the Special Investigation Unit’s senior superintendent. Two days before the raid, the Special Investigation Unit arrested Rehanuddin, who was found in an injured condition. “He is named in a case of extortion and firing at a car showroom, which was registered at the Jamshed Quarters police station a month ago,” Khan said.
During questioning, Rehanuddin provided information that led to the joint operation by the Special Investigation Unit and central police in the area covered by the Rizvia police station. Seventeen people were initially detained, and nine weapons were seized, including G-3 rifles, submachine guns and pistols. Further scrutiny revealed that eight of those detained had criminal records. In addition to Mullah Shahzaib and Jawwad, the arrests included three suspects accused of firing weapons during extortion attempts and three others described as “facilitators,” Khan said. Ten cases had been registered with the Special Investigation Unit against nine suspects involved in extortion, including Rehanuddin, he added.
In response to a question, Khan said that if evidence emerged showing that anyone had sheltered or hidden the suspects, “action would be taken against that individual as well.” He also noted that Rehanuddin had run as an independent candidate for a seat in the National Assembly during the 2024 elections. The police reiterated that there was no evidence linking Qadri or any other member of the Pakistan Sunni Tehreek to the extortion activities. The party, known for its advocacy on Sunni Muslim issues, has faced scrutiny in the past over alleged ties to militant elements, but officials stressed that Saturday’s raid yielded no such connections. Extortion remains a scourge in Karachi, where rival gangs, political factions and militant groups have long vied for control.
Copyright © 2021 Independent Pakistan | All rights reserved
