Sunday, December 15, 2013

Karachi-like situation being created in Peshawar

Peshawar High Court (PHC) Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan observed on Friday that judiciary would not allow anyone to create Karachi-like situation in Peshawar come what may.
“The anti-state elements and criminals are also active in Peshawar to create Karachi-like situation as doctors and businessmen are being kidnapped in daylight and people’ houses are being bombed to harass and compel them to pay extortion money,” the PHC chief justice said during hearing of bail petition of a retired police officer who was charged with demanding extortion from a local businessman.
Taking notice of the surge in extortion demands by unknown persons from respectable citizens, a single bench headed by the chief justice issued notice to Inspector General of Police (IGP), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, asking him to constitute a team of senior investigators to unmask and punish those involved in this heinous crime. He said that it was the responsibility of the law-enforcing agencies to protect citizens and their property.
“The heads of the law-enforcing agencies and police force would have no justification to work on their posts if they fail to curb extortion, target killings and kidnappings for ransom,” he said. The bench also asked the provincial and federal governments to take the issue seriously and bring the cases of the people involved in these crimes before the courts for trial.
Shahidullah, counsel for the accused retired police officer, Ashiqur Rehman, submitted that his client was arrested on the charges of demanding Rs5 million through phone calls from Mujeebur Rehman, the owner of private car bargain centre. He submitted that his client was falsely charged in the case as there was a money dispute between the two. On the other hand, Mujeebur Rehman’s lawyer submitted that he had received 150 phone calls from various SIMs demanding the extortion money. He said there was also a videotape on record about the identification of the accused in the case. However, the court granted bail to the accused person with the observation that the evidence against him was not sufficient to keep him behind bars.

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