By Moin Ullah Shah
KARACHI: Four key operatives of an extortion gang led by Samad Kathawari have been arrested in Karachi, police said on Thursday.
According to the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of the CIA, the arrests were made in a major operation, with SSP SIU Imran Khan confirming that the suspects included the brother of the gang’s ringleader, Samad Kathawari. The men were apprehended on technical grounds from the Federal B Area.
Police said a mobile phone and SIM card used for extortion were recovered from the suspects. They were identified as Shayan, Mubashir, Shafee and Shahid. During initial interrogation, investigators said, several important disclosures were made. SSP Imran Khan said the gang was involved in collecting extortion money from traders and, on the instructions of its leader, carried out firing incidents to intimidate victims.
Police said traders were routinely threatened through phone calls demanding extortion payments. The suspects were wanted by police in two extortion cases and had allegedly demanded money from a trader last month. One case was registered on 23 November at Samanabad police station.
In another incident, the suspects allegedly demanded extortion from the owner of a Pakwan Centre in New Karachi and threatened him with serious consequences for refusing to pay. That case was also registered on 23 November at New Karachi police station. Police said legal proceedings against the suspects were under way.
