ISLAMABAD: Increasing terrorism and extortions have endangered public security in Pakistan’s restive northwestern part Khyber Pakhtunkhwa The state where militants in many regions run a parallel shadow administration.
The southern districts of the province have become areas where even law enforcement forces can almost not enter. In the evening, militants were seen patrolling the streets and setting up checkpoints in Bannu, North and South Waziristan, Tank, Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan.
While these areas remain at the mercy of the militants from dusk until dawn, wealthy people in other parts of the province often receive threatening WhatsApp messages and letters from the Pakistani Taliban. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – facing payment demands or attacks. Those who refuse to pay ransom are often targeted with grenade attacks on their homes, shops and warehouses; This apparently shows that the group is serious about its threats.
Faisal Khan, a lawyer in Charsadda district, told TOI that he received a threatening WhatsApp message from a number in Afghanistan earlier this month, demanding payment of $50,000 (Pak Rs 1.4 cr). Khan reported the threats to the police and also went to senior civil servants to seek protection and assistance. He claimed that he was warned by his “allies in the government” not to “trust” them in order to keep himself safe.
Shahzaib, another person in the same neighborhood who received a similar message on TTP’s letterhead last month, made the payment after reaching an agreement through intermediaries. He eventually paid a reduced portion of the $50,000 the militants had initially demanded. “TTP demands extortion from anyone it thinks can pay. Most, if not all, wealthy individuals have already paid.”
Police sources said the main hurdle was tracking down the extortionists. At least 1,600 Afghan phone numbers and 387 illegal gateways were used for extortion calls in the last two years. “Despite the growing threat, the issue is yet to attract national attention,” a senior police official said.