Dawn – Pakistan | 2025-10-08 13:31
According to a report by Dawn… In the wake of concerns expressed by the business community over rising incidents of extortion, Sindh Inspector General of Police (IG) Ghulam Nabi Memon on Wednesday vowed to provide “full protection” to economic and commercial activities in collaboration with traders across the province.
“Elements hindering economic activity would be eliminated with the cooperation of the businessmen,” the provincial police chief was quoted as saying in a police statement while reviewing a crime data report on Karachi, which was submitted by Additional IG Operations.
As per the police statement, 118 incidents of extortion were reported in Karachi so far this year, of which only 44 were genuine extortion cases, while the remaining 74 pertained to personal disputes and business quarrels.
The statement added that of the 44 cases, 39 were “solved” — a success ratio of 87 per cent.
Police spokesperson Syed Saad Ali was quoted as saying that a total of 78 suspects involved in these cases were identified, of which 43 were arrested and five others were gunned down in “encounters”.
The statement further said that the Sindh IG met with the trading community around 10 days ago, and since then, four extortionists were gunned down in police “encounters”.
“Law and order and business atmosphere are being further strengthened in Sindh province with [the] cooperation of traders,” the provincial police chief was quoted as saying.
IG Memon appreciated the business community’s decision to install CCTV cameras at their business centres and added that the Sindh government, police and other law enforcement agencies are standing with traders to promote economic activities.
“By utilising resources provided by the Sindh government, the police are carrying out effective action against the criminal elements on a daily basis,” said the Sindh IG.
Police also claimed that, as compared to last year, there had been a “significant” reduction in street crimes during the ongoing year. As of 2024, 252 incidents of street crimes were being reported daily, but this year, only 167 incidents have been reported.
Similarly, 34 cases of kidnappings have been reported this year so far, involving 37 abductees. Two of them have been recovered safely by the police, while “concerted efforts are underway to recover [the] two remaining persons. Both kidnapping cases were ‘honey traps’,” the statement read.
According to police, 46 kidnappers were arrested, while two others were gunned down in encounters.
In May, a senior police officer on Monday said that a total of 33 persons were shot dead in incidents of street crime, citing data collected by the police.
Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Chief SSP Mohammed Shoaib Memon said that of them, 23 cases were reported through the arrest of culprits involved in heinous crimes, while 10 cases were under investigation. complete report is on below link.
